A follow-up to The TikTok War, including Xi Jinping’s ideology, Facebook’s blindspot, and why TikTok should be compared to YouTube.
The TikTok War
How TikTok exposed Facebook’s blindspot, thanks to its Chinese roots, and why those Chinese roots make TikTok a genuine concern.
Analog Devices Buying Maxim Integrated, The Geopolitical Angle, Facebook and Political Ads
Understanding analog chips and the geopolitical angle, and why Facebook should not ban political ads.
Uber Acquires Postmates; DoorDash Optimism; TikTok, Apple, and Hong Kong
Uber acquires Postmates, which makes me bullish about DoorDash. Then, TikTok invokes Shakespeare.
Hong Kong and Facebook, The Pacific Light Cable Network System and Stripe, Facebook Lasso and Instagram Reels
Facebook responds to China in Hong Kong, while Stripe avoids the complication. Then, Instagram Reels shows why Instagram Stories succeeded.
India Bans Chinese Apps, The App Store Firewall, Reddit and The Donald
India is banning Chinese apps, in a reminder that nations still matter; China knows the more than anyone. Then, why centralized App Stores make this easier, and why Reddit is a reminder that infrastructure matters.
Podcast Apps Banned in China, Podcast Censorship, Zoom Suspends U.S.-based Chinese Activist
Two podcasts apps were banned in China; Apple has to follow local law, but how much censorship is Apple doing itself? Then Zoom demonstrates it can’t be trusted.
Twitter and Trump, YouTube and China, Facebook and Polarization
Twitter fact-checks Trump, YouTube censors Chinese words, and Facebook reportedly declines to police polarization.
Chips and Geopolitics
TSMC showed the power of modularization, and now they are core to the U.S. national security strategy.
Taiwan and Tech’s Geopolitical Realities, ARM on Mac?, TSMC’s Choice
The U.S. is increasingly — and appropriately — concerned about its extreme dependence on Taiwan. TSMC needs to build in the U.S. if they don’t want to let Intel back in the game.