Comment by hrtar

The "small minority" label has been applied to Trump supporters on social media, yet they have won in the elections twice.

Manufacturing consent still works via the traditional newspapers. That is where "the (current) truth" originates from. That is what is amplified on social media, including here. It takes years of struggle of independently minded people to argue against mainstream. Often after two years mainstream takes the position of independently minded people and takes the credit.

TikTok is different in that it addresses teenagers. They don't have any political power and will change their opinions in their 20s/30s. The data collection and blackmail arguments are still valid. But they also happen in the West, except that three letter agencies collect compromising material on domestic and foreign politicians.

I mean, really? On social media anti-China sentiment is at an all time high. This Chinese manipulation operation must have really failed.