On January 20, 2025, the world watched as Donald Trump was sworn in—again—as the 47th President of the United States. But this wasn’t just any inauguration. This wasn’t just about the transfer of power.
This was about who holds the keys to the internet itself.
Because standing in the VIP section, watching with keen interest, were the most powerful figures in media and technology:
What were they doing there? And more importantly, what does this mean for the future of free speech, media, and the internet?
For years, Trump has railed against Big Tech censorship, accusing platforms of silencing conservative voices. He even launched his own platform, Truth Social, to fight back.
But now, the game has changed.
This wasn’t a room full of enemies. This was a meeting of the new elite—the people who decide what you see, what you read, and what you believe.
With Trump in power and the biggest players in tech seemingly aligned with him, we’re entering a new era.
What happens to free speech when politics and tech power become one?
Who controls the algorithms that decide what content goes viral—and what gets buried?
What if the platforms that once censored Trump now start silencing his opposition?
Elon Musk’s presence is particularly fascinating. As the owner of X (formerly Twitter), he has positioned himself as a free speech absolutist—but will that apply equally in a Trump-controlled world?
And then there’s AI. With OpenAI’s leadership in attendance, it’s impossible to ignore the role artificial intelligence will play in shaping online discourse. Could AI tools like ChatGPT become politically influenced? Will fact-checking be biased?
If the 2016 election was shaped by Facebook, Twitter, and Russian bots, and 2020 was fought over mail-in ballots and voter suppression, 2025 is shaping up to be a battle for total information dominance.
Key risks of this new Trump-Tech alignment:
Algorithmic Favoritism – What if pro-Trump content is pushed while dissenting views are quietly suppressed? The average user would never even know.
AI-Generated Political Messaging – Imagine ChatGPT shaping responses to political questions in a way that subtly favors one ideology over another. AI can control narratives in ways we don’t yet fully understand.
Musk’s ‘Free Speech’ Paradox – If Elon Musk’s X becomes Trump’s new megaphone, what happens to opposition voices?
China and TikTok – Trump once called TikTok a national security threat. Now, its leadership was at his inauguration. Did a backroom deal happen?
Amazon’s Cloud Control – With AWS (Amazon Web Services) powering much of the internet, could web hosting be used as a political weapon?
Let’s be clear—Trump doesn’t just want to be President. He wants to control the conversation.
By aligning himself with the digital gatekeepers of the modern world, he ensures that the internet itself bends to his narrative.
This is no longer about Trump vs. The Media.
This is Trump becoming The Media.
Expect policy changes that reshape tech regulations—but in ways that benefit the companies standing by Trump’s side.
Expect a crackdown on certain types of speech—not just from the left, but possibly even from Trump’s own critics.
Expect AI and social media to play a bigger role than ever before in shaping public opinion—but in ways we may never fully see or understand.
The internet was once seen as the great equalizer, a space for free expression. But what happens when the people who control the platforms and the people who control the government become the same people?
If 2016 and 2020 taught us anything, it’s that who controls the media controls the election.
And in 2025, Trump may have just secured the biggest media empire in history.
And more importantly, will you even be able to tell the difference?
What if the U.S. government isn’t protecting you from China—but protecting itself from the truth?
For decades, the U.S. media and government have fed the public a carefully curated narrative: China is the enemy. From tech bans to trade wars, the message is clear—China is a dangerous force that must be contained.
But now, something unexpected is happening.
Americans are downloading RedNote (Xiaohongshu), and they’re starting to realize that everything they’ve been told might not be true.
For years, the only stories about China that reached Western audiences were filtered through legacy media outlets, government briefings, and Big Tech algorithms. The country was portrayed as an authoritarian surveillance state, an economic predator, and a threat to global stability.
But once TikTok users started migrating to RedNote, they encountered something they weren’t supposed to see: real, unfiltered glimpses of life in China. Not state propaganda, not Hollywood’s dystopian version—just everyday people sharing their lives, culture, and ideas. And it didn’t match the fear-mongering narratives they had been fed. They now know that Chinese people can afford more food from them, they are being educated better, they drive better cars and they have free health!
Think about it:
It’s because RedNote is doing something that Washington and the media weren’t prepared for—it’s letting Americans see China without a filter. And that realization is dangerous to those who rely on keeping the public misinformed.
RedNote is not just another social media app—it’s a digital bridge. A bridge connecting Americans to an entirely different perspective, one that Washington doesn’t want them to explore.
For decades, the U.S. has controlled narratives through:
Now, RedNote is bypassing those filters and allowing people to directly engage with real stories from real people on the other side of the world. And that’s why it’s a problem.
If history has taught us anything, it’s that when Americans start questioning their government’s narratives, the establishment responds with force.
The TikTok ban was never about protecting Americans from China. It was about protecting politicians and media elites from losing control over public perception.
RedNote is the next battleground. And as more Americans download it, they aren’t just seeing a different side of China—they’re waking up to how much they’ve been misled about the world.
This moment shouldn’t stop with RedNote. If Americans—and even Europeans—really want to break free from media manipulation, they should download Russian apps, explore alternative platforms, and see the world for themselves.
Because when you step outside the bubble of Western propaganda, you realize something profound: common people—whether they’re in China, Russia, the U.S., or anywhere else—don’t want war. They don’t want to kill each other. They just want to live their lives, raise their families, and exist peacefully.
And maybe that’s the most dangerous truth of all. Because the moment people realize they have more in common than what divides them, the power of those who profit from division begins to crumble.
So, download the apps they don’t want you to. See the world through your own eyes. And watch as the illusion starts to fade.
propaganda posters via
Evening Public Ledger, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 11, 1919 via
What if the U.S. government doesn’t fear China spying on you—but fears losing control over the political propaganda machine?
For months, the U.S. government has been hammering home a single message: TikTok is a national security threat. They claim China is harvesting user data, tracking Americans, and influencing young minds. That’s why they’re banning it, right?
But let’s cut the crap.
If the concern was really about “China spying on Americans,” why did both Trump and Harris use TikTok in their 2024 campaigns? Did TikTok steal their data too? Or did they realize—just like every other politician—that TikTok is where the people are? If the platform was truly a Chinese surveillance tool, wouldn’t the FBI and NSA have stopped two of the most high-profile political figures in the country from using it?
The truth is, this ban isn’t about data privacy—it’s about who controls the narrative.
For years, political campaigns in the U.S. have spent billions on Meta’s platforms (Facebook & Instagram), carefully fine-tuning how they manipulate public opinion. It’s where political strategists deploy surgical ad campaigns, where algorithms ensure you only see what benefits those in power.
But then came TikTok. And TikTok broke the system.
Unlike Meta’s tightly controlled ad ecosystem, TikTok’s algorithm is an unpredictable beast. It doesn’t care how much money you throw at it. It decides virality on engagement, not ad spend. That’s why grassroots movements exploded, unfiltered narratives spread like wildfire, and legacy politicians suddenly realized they were losing control of the conversation.
Think about it:
This isn’t about China spying—it’s about making sure only the right people control the digital battlefield.
The second TikTok users started migrating to RedNote, another Chinese-owned platform, the hypocrisy became obvious. If this was about China’s influence, we’d be seeing the same level of scrutiny on RedNote. But for now, it flies under the radar. Why?
Because the U.S. government and corporate elites haven’t figured out how to weaponize it yet. Give it time. If RedNote takes off in the U.S. and proves just as uncontrollable as TikTok, expect a sudden national security crisis to emerge overnight. Suddenly, politicians will start sounding the alarm: “RedNote is a Trojan Horse!” “Chinese propaganda is brainwashing our youth!” “We must act NOW!”
It’s the same playbook, just a different platform.
Let’s be clear: TikTok, Meta, Google, and RedNote all collect user data. That’s the price of using free social media platforms. But only one of these platforms disrupted the carefully controlled landscape of U.S. political influence—and that’s why it had to go.
The TikTok ban isn’t about privacy or national security. It’s about ensuring that the next generation of political discourse happens on platforms that the U.S. establishment can control.
And if RedNote becomes the next big thing? Prepare for another “crisis” that justifies its takedown.
The internet was supposed to be a free frontier. Now, it’s a battlefield. And if you’re not paying attention, you’re already losing.
Imagine a world where every thought, every desire, and every aspiration you’ve ever had was subtly planted in your mind—not by friends, family, or personal experience, but by carefully crafted advertisements you’ve been exposed to since birth. What if your concept of happiness, beauty, or success wasn’t truly your own? This is the world we live in, and the consequences are profound.
Image from free pic
By the time the average person turns 18, they’ve seen over 2 million advertisements. These aren’t just fleeting images; they’re a systematic programming of our desires and beliefs. Advertising doesn’t just sell products; it sells ideals, aspirations, and a vision of how life “should” be.
For example, consider the iconic Coca-Cola holiday ads. They don’t just promote a beverage; they equate drinking Coke with the joy and magic of the holiday season. Repeated exposure to such messaging subtly shifts our emotional connection to brands, associating them with life’s most meaningful moments. Over time, these narratives construct a baseline—a mental framework of what “normal” looks like.
One of advertising’s most insidious effects is how it co-opts individuality. In a world where self-expression is commodified, choices that feel personal often stem from a menu of pre-packaged options.
Take fashion, for instance. Global campaigns by brands like Nike or Gucci promise uniqueness, yet their mass appeal ensures conformity within narrowly defined boundaries.
A study by the American Psychological Association found that materialism, fueled by advertising, correlates with lower self-esteem and higher levels of anxiety. This creates a paradox: while ads promise individuality and fulfillment, they often homogenize desires, ensuring we’re all striving for a “unique” ideal that millions of others share.
By normalizing a culture of consumption, advertisements perpetuate a cycle of perpetual dissatisfaction. Every product promises a solution to a problem you didn’t know you had.
For example, beauty ads often highlight perceived flaws—wrinkles, acne, or dull skin—that require their products to fix. This strategy keeps fulfillment always just one purchase away.
A striking example is the rise of fast fashion. Brands like Zara and H&M churn out trends at breakneck speed, convincing consumers that last month’s clothing is outdated. This has not only environmental consequences but also psychological ones, fostering a mindset where nothing is ever enough.
In the digital age, advertising’s impact has intensified exponentially. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok use algorithms to deliver hyper-targeted ads, exploiting individual vulnerabilities and these tailored messages are far more effective than traditional methods.
Consider the rise of influencer marketing.
When a celebrity or influencer seamlessly integrates a product into their content, the line between authenticity and advertisement blurs. For young minds, this constant exposure creates a distorted sense of reality, where curated perfection becomes the norm.
Understanding the cumulative psychological impact of advertising is the first step toward reclaiming our autonomy. Awareness allows us to question our desires: “Do I really want this, or have I been taught to want it?” It’s a question that can feel unsettling but is essential in untangling personal identity from corporate influence.
One actionable step is fostering media literacy. Teaching children and adults to analyze advertisements critically can empower them to recognize manipulative tactics. For instance, breaking down how ads use colours, emotions, and scarcity to create urgency can demystify their power. Governments and schools should also prioritize stricter regulations and educational programs to reduce the early and pervasive impact of ads.
Advertisements don’t just shape what we buy; they shape who we are. They redefine what we consider beautiful, successful, and worthy—often without our conscious consent. By understanding and addressing this cumulative impact, we can begin to dismantle the hidden architecture of desire and reclaim the freedom to define our own values.
The question we must ask ourselves is this: Are we making choices that reflect our true selves, or are we merely acting on impulses carefully cultivated by an industry that profits from our longing? The answer holds the key to a more authentic and fulfilling existence.
Have you ever realized how deeply an advertisement influenced your choices?
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