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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:

  • Rupert Murdoch, the ultimate kingmaker of conservative media.
  • Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), Trump’s old battlefield for unfiltered speech.
  • The CEOs of Apple, Google, and Meta (Facebook/Instagram/threads)—the architects of our digital world.
  • The CEO of TikTok, the most influential platform for young voters, despite Trump once calling it a national security threat.
  • The CEO of OpenAI (ChatGPT), representing the next frontier of AI-driven information control.
  • Amazon’s CEO, whose company dominates everything from cloud computing to online commerce.

What were they doing there? And more importantly, what does this mean for the future of free speech, media, and the internet?


Trump’s Information Power Play

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.

  • If Trump was once at war with these tech moguls, why are they now standing by his side?
  • Is this a surrender from Big Tech, or something more sinister?
  • Are we witnessing the birth of an unholy alliance between politics, AI, and social media?

The End of Digital Free Speech?

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?


A Digital Coup? How Information Will Be Controlled

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?


Trump’s Digital Takeover: A Masterstroke or a Threat to Democracy?

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.

  • If he controls the legacy media (Murdoch), he controls TV news.
  • If he controls the social media platforms, he controls the public discourse.
  • If he controls AI, he controls what people believe is true.

This is no longer about Trump vs. The Media.
This is Trump becoming The Media.


What Happens Next?

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.


Are we witnessing a new era of free speech and digital democracy—or the most sophisticated attempt yet to control public perception?

And more importantly, will you even be able to tell the difference?

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.

Meta: The U.S. Government’s Propaganda Playground

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.

The U.S. Government’s Selective “Data Privacy” Concerns

Think about it:

  • Facebook has repeatedly been caught selling user data, yet it still dominates U.S. elections.
  • Google tracks your every move, yet no one calls for a ban.
  • TikTok allows unfiltered political discourse, and suddenly, it’s a national security threat?

This isn’t about China spying—it’s about making sure only the right people control the digital battlefield.

Enter RedNote: The Next Threat to the Establishment

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.

The Bigger Picture: It’s Not About Privacy, It’s About Power

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.

I just watched the documentary series titled “Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action” premiered on Netflix on January 7, 2025. This docuseries delves into the history and cultural impact of “The Jerry Springer Show,” which aired from 1991 to 2018 and became notorious for its sensational and controversial content. I used to watch it fanatically, the show was often criticized for its sensationalism, exploitation of vulnerable individuals, and its impact on American television culture.

Despite its controversies, the Jerry Springer Show became a cultural phenomenon and a symbol of sensationalist talk television, influencing the genre, copied from many other shows across the globe and cementing Jerry Springer’s legacy in pop culture!

Let’s keep it real: Trash content whether on TV, TikTok, Facebook, Youtube Twitter and across most of the internet have us in a chokehold. You might not want to admit it, but who hasn’t spiralled into a TikTok feud thread or stayed up late watching a reality star flip a table? It’s our cultural junk food—a guilty pleasure that we consume and share at breakneck speed. The big question is: Why? Why do we love the chaos, why do we spread it like wildfire, and what’s the cost to us as a society?

Why We Love It: The Psychology of Trash

Humans are wired for drama. Conflict grabs our attention—it’s in our DNA. Trash TV and viral drama let us live vicariously through other people’s mess without the actual fallout. It’s like watching a car crash: you know you shouldn’t stare, but you can’t look away. Psychologists even have a word for this: schadenfreude (a.k.a. getting a weird thrill from someone else’s disaster). It’s not our proudest trait, but it’s real.

And let’s not forget escapism. Trash content—whether it’s a messy reality show, the actual news or a TikTok callout—offers a break from our everyday lives. It’s drama without consequences, entertainment that doesn’t ask for much except your attention.

Then there’s the algorithm. Platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Twitter are designed to make sensational content explode. The more outlandish or emotional the post, the faster it spreads. Social media thrives on engagement, and nothing drives clicks like chaos.

Why We Share It: Drama as a Social Currency

Here’s the thing: Sharing trash content isn’t just about the content itself—it’s about us. When we share a clip of a reality star’s meltdown or a viral TikTok feud, we’re saying, “Look at this insanity—and look how much better my life is in comparison.” Trash TV and drama give us something to bond over, to laugh at, or to judge. It’s a way of signaling, “I’m in the know. I get it.”

Sharing also connects us. Viral drama becomes the cultural water cooler—a way to spark conversations and feel part of a bigger moment. And let’s be honest: Posting or retweeting chaos makes us feel relevant. It’s like shouting, “Can you believe this?!” into the digital void and waiting for someone to shout back.

The Damage We’re Doing: When Chaos Becomes the Norm

But here’s where it gets messy. Our obsession with trash content isn’t without consequences.

  1. Desensitization: When your feed is a non-stop parade of fights, callouts, and breakdowns, it’s easy to forget that there are real people behind the chaos and the media circus. Trash content turns human struggles into memes, making it harder to empathize.
  2. Shallow Engagement: Sure, trash content is entertaining, but it doesn’t leave room for deeper conversations. Instead of discussing big ideas or meaningful change, we’re stuck in a loop of “LOL” and “SMH.”
  3. Cultural Fallout: The more we normalize trash, the more we reward bad behaviour. We’re creating a culture where being loud and messy is the fastest way to pay attention. And let’s face it: That’s not a great look for society.

Trash content isn’t going anywhere

Look, I’m not here to tell you to delete TikTok or stop watching reality TV. Trash content isn’t going anywhere—it’s been around since the Roman Colosseum. But maybe we can be smarter about how we consume it. Ask yourself: Am I sharing this because it adds something meaningful, or just because it’s shocking?

We can also start pushing back against the algorithms. The next time a wild clip pops up on your feed, think twice before hitting share. Because every click, like, and retweet sends a message: More of this, please. And we have the power to demand better.

So what’s your take?

Are we just hardwired to love the chaos, or can we break the cycle?

Let’s talk about it. Drop your thoughts, your experiences, or your favorite trash TV moments in the comments. After all, a little drama can be fun—as long as it doesn’t define us.

I’ve watched with deep concern—as many of you have—while social media giants like Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and X (formerly Twitter) continue to abandon fact-checking. Let me tell you why that matters.

Democracy isn’t an artifact that sits on a shelf, protected by glass. It’s an ongoing conversation, a mutual understanding that despite our differences, we converge around at least one thing: an agreement on what’s real and what isn’t.

Now, Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk have chosen to remove or diminish the very guardrails designed to keep that conversation grounded in truth, opening a gateway to a deluge of unverified claims, conspiracy theories, and outright propaganda.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with spirited debate. I believe in open discourse just as much as anyone. But without fact-checking, the loudest, most incendiary voices will inevitably rise to the top. Lies will masquerade as truth—and with few credible gatekeepers left, many will mistake those lies for reality. This distortion doesn’t just live online; it seeps into everyday life, affecting our elections, our institutions, and the very fabric of our communities.

This brings me to an unsettling question: Is the Trump administration, by either direct encouragement or tacit approval, looking to capitalize on this shift away from fact-checking? We know political figures can benefit from an atmosphere of confusion. By flooding the zone with misinformation, they can distract the public from more pressing issues, undermine opponents, and cast doubt on legitimate inquiries. When there’s no agreement on basic facts, holding leaders accountable becomes that much harder.

Yet our problems aren’t limited to democracy alone. These days, artificial intelligence powers everything from recommendation engines to predictive text. AI systems learn from the data we feed them. If these systems are gobbling up streams of falsehoods, they will inevitably produce conclusions—and even entire bodies of text—rooted in distortion. In other words, our new AI tools risk amplifying the very misinformation that’s already so pervasive. Instead of helping us find clarity, they could end up doubling down on half-truths and conspiracies, accelerating the spread of confusion.

History tells us that propaganda, when left unchecked, exacts a steep price from society. Over time, it poisons trust in not just our political institutions, but also in science, journalism, and even our neighbors. And although I’m not in favor of letting any single entity dictate what we can or cannot say, I do believe it’s essential for the most influential technology platforms in the world to take basic steps to ensure a baseline of accuracy. We should be able to have lively debates about policy, values, and the direction of our country—but let’s at least do it from a common foundation of facts.

I still have faith in our capacity to get this right, and here’s how:

  1. Demand Accountability: Big Tech executives need to explain why they’re moving away from fact-checking. They hold immense sway over our public dialogue. We should also question whether leaders in the Trump administration are nudging these platforms in that direction—or celebrating it. If they are, the public deserves to know why. (Something obviously we’re never going to learn)
  2. Engage Wisely: Before hitting “share,” pause. Verify sources. Ask whether something might be a rumor or a distortion. Demand citations and context. As more of us practice “digital hygiene,” we create a culture of informed skepticism that keeps misinformation from running rampant.
  3. Support Ethical AI: Companies and researchers developing AI should prioritize integrity in their models. That means paying attention to data quality and ensuring biases or falsehoods aren’t baked into the training sets. We can’t let AI be fed a diet of lies—or it will spit out that same dishonesty at scale.
  4. Champion Constructive Policy: Governments can and should play a role in ensuring there’s transparency around how platforms moderate—or fail to moderate—content. This isn’t about giving the state unchecked power; it’s about setting fair, balanced guidelines that respect free speech while upholding the public’s right to truth.

Whether or not the Trump administration is behind this wave of “no fact-checking,” one thing is certain: Democracy depends on an informed populace. When powerful individuals or institutions remove the tools that help us distinguish fact from fiction, we must speak up—loudly and persistently.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. Either we stand up for a digital public square where facts matter and propaganda is called out for what it is, or we risk sliding into a world where reason and compromise become impossible. In the end, it’s our shared reality—and our shared responsibility—to defend it.

If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that when people join forces with open eyes and a commitment to truth, we can achieve extraordinary things. Let’s not lose sight of that promise. Let’s hold our tech leaders and our elected officials to account. Let’s ensure we feed our AI systems the facts, not a steady stream of fabrications. Our democracy, and indeed our collective future, depends on it.

When Democracy Spoke for All

There was a time when democracy belonged to the people—not to wallets or ad budgets, but to voices and ideas.

It was messy. It was passionate. It was imperfect.
But it was ours.

Today, that promise feels further away.

What happens when the voice of a citizen is no longer measured by the strength of their argument but by the size of their wallet? What happens when democracy becomes a game of pay-to-play—when influence is bought, not earned? Well basically what we see all over our world.


The Cost of Being Heard

Here’s the truth:
In the 2024 U.S. elections, political ad spending shattered records—$10 billion spent to buy clicks, impressions, and algorithmic nudges.

And this isn’t just an American story. Between 2020 and 2023, political ad spending on Google / youtube network surged across Europe.

  • Germany spent 5.4 million euros on Google platforms.
  • Hungary spent 3 million euros.
  • The Netherlands followed with 2.6 million euros.

In comparison, top political spenders on Meta in the countries with the most campaign ad spending were more diverse. Three right-wing and far-right parties, like Belgium’s Vlaams Belang, topped the charts alongside Spain, Italy, and Sweden’s socialist and social-democratic parties. 

While digital platforms allow politicians to reach millions, they also create new risks. Low-cost, high-reach ads enable more voices—but at what cost to democracy?


The New Political Battlefield

Digital technologies have completely transformed political campaigning. Social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram and ads across the Google/Youtube network offer politicians massive reach at a fraction of the cost of traditional media.

But there’s a dark side to this transformation.

Big data and micro-targeting have turned political advertising into a tool for emotional manipulation and voter exploitation. Platforms collect personal data—preferences, interests, fears—and hand it over to campaigns. Malicious actors tailor messages to trigger specific emotions, often using disinformation to sway public opinion.

And the cost isn’t just to political debate. It’s to our freedom of opinion, our access to transparent information, and our trust in democracy itself.


Why Transparency Matters

The European Union has taken steps to address this and hopefully change things for the better. In February 2024, the European Parliament adopted new transparency rules for political advertising. These rules aim to:

  1. Ensure political ads are clearly labelled.
  2. Reveal who sponsored the ad, how much they paid, and why a user was targeted.
  3. Ban micro-targeting based on sensitive personal data—such as ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation.

For the first time, sponsoring ads from outside the EU will also be banned in the three months leading up to elections.

Sandro Gozi, the MEP leading the effort, put it simply:

“Digital technologies make citizens more vulnerable
to disinformation and foreign interference. Now more than ever, it is crucial to safeguard our democratic and electoral processes. The rules adopted today play a pivotal role in helping citizens discern who is behind a political message and make an informed choice when they head to the polls. With the European elections approaching, we urge all major online platforms to start applying the new rules as soon as possible and ensure the digital space remains a safe place to exchange political ideas and opinions”

Transparency is a start—but it doesn’t erase the deeper problem: money still determines who gets heard and this will continue to apply.


The Divide Widens

The U.S. has yet to adopt similar measures, leaving its political advertising landscape wide open to manipulation and exploitation. While the EU attempts to protect voter trust, the U.S. continues to favor unregulated ad spending, allowing disinformation and algorithmic dominance to flourish unchecked.

This imbalance is growing, and with it, the gap between those who can afford to play—and those left behind.


When the Margins Rise

And yet, there’s hope.

In 2020, Stacey Abrams and her grassroots organization Fair Fight Action transformed voter turnout in Georgia. Through community organizing, digital outreach, and relentless advocacy, her team overcame systemic barriers to reach voters who had long been excluded from the political process.

Her success wasn’t powered by the biggest ad budget. It was fueled by purpose and the belief that democracy works best when everyone participates.

This story reminds us: Money matters, but passion and persistence can still punch through.


The Real Cost of Silence

If democracy becomes something you can buy, what happens to those who can’t afford it?

What happens to voters when they can’t trust the information they see?
What happens to elections when money doesn’t just buy ads—it buys influence?

The European Union’s steps toward transparency are progress. But the real question remains:

Who gets heard? Who gets silenced? And what future are we building when the price of political influence keeps rising?


In the end, it is all about what kind of democracy we want

One where the wealthiest voices dominate—or one where every citizen has a seat at the table?

What happens when the algorithms we trust to inform us are rigged to reward dollars/euros etc over discourse?

Democracy isn’t a product. It’s not a brand. It’s a promise. A promise that belongs to all of us—not just those who can afford to buy in.

The question is: Will we fight for that promise?

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TikTok has been hailed as the great equalizer of modern marketing—a space where brands can reach millions with a single, well-timed post. Its algorithm rewards creativity and engagement, making it a tantalizing platform for brands eager to connect with younger audiences. Yet, new research reveals a troubling truth: much of this content isn’t working.

According to DAIVID, a global creative effectiveness platform, a staggering 84% of branded TikTok videos fail to deliver meaningful emotional engagement or recall. Even more concerning, 24% of these videos evoke intensely negative emotions, such as awkwardness, anxiety, or even disgust. For a platform built on fun and connection, these numbers are a wake-up call.

TikTok’s promise of virality comes with risks, and as more brands jump on the latest dance or hashtag challenge, a deeper issue emerges: When everyone is doing the same thing, what makes you stand out? Are we not supposed to continue building brands on differentiation?


The TikTok Trap: Chasing Trends, Losing Identity

TikTok’s algorithm is a double-edged sword. It rewards content that fits within existing trends, encouraging brands to mimic what’s already working. The result, many brands are producing content that feels interchangeable.

But here’s the problem: TikTok users might engage with these videos, but they don’t always remember the brands behind them. Research shows that TikTok content is 9% less likely to generate intense positive emotions and garners 2.5% less attention than global averages. This isn’t just a numbers game—it’s a question of relevance.

When every coffee shop, sneaker company, and clothing brand participates in the same viral dance, their messages blur together.

TikTok might boost short-term engagement, but does it build long-term loyalty, does it get your message across?


The Danger of Sameness

The biggest issue with TikTok marketing isn’t its creativity—it’s its conformity. The pressure to stay relevant on the platform often leads to a flood of repetitive, low-risk, low-value content.

According to Influencer Marketing Hub’s 2024 TikTok Marketing Report, user-generated content (55.7%) outperforms branded challenges (13.1%) in effectiveness. This suggests that audiences value authenticity over slickly produced, trend-chasing videos.

Even worse, DAIVID’s data highlights that 24% of TikTok videos evoke negative emotions, undermining brand trust. Whether it’s a poorly executed challenge or a tone-deaf campaign, these missteps have consequences. Consumers aren’t just disengaging—they’re forming negative associations with the brands involved.


Breaking Free From the Algorithm

The good news? Brands don’t have to play by TikTok’s rules to succeed on the platform. Instead of chasing trends, they can focus on creating content that reflects their unique voice and values.

  1. Lean Into Authenticity:
    TikTok thrives on genuine, relatable content. Instead of mimicking trends, brands can spotlight real stories, user-generated content, or behind-the-scenes glimpses.
  2. Embrace Feedback:
    According to the TikTok Marketing Report, 67.8% https://influencermarketinghub.com/tiktok-marketing-report/of marketers consider community feedback critical to their content strategies. Listening to what audiences want—and adapting accordingly—can set brands apart.
  3. Be Bold and Purposeful:
    Trends may drive views, but purpose builds loyalty. Brands that align their content with their mission and values will foster deeper connections.

The Opportunity Ahead

TikTok isn’t the problem—it’s how brands use it. The platform offers unparalleled reach and creativity, but only if brands resist the urge to conform. Instead of chasing fleeting trends, the most successful brands will innovate, crafting campaigns that are memorable and meaningful.

Great brands don’t just follow the crowd. They lead with purpose, the differentiate.

In a world of constant content, the challenge isn’t going viral—it’s being remembered.

The path forward is clear, and if the influencer marketing landscape has taught us anything, it’s that authenticity always wins in the long run.

So, the next time your marketing team proposes a TikTok dance or a challenge, ask: “Does this reflect who we are—or just what’s trending?”

In a world where attention spans are short and sameness is everywhere, the boldest move a brand can make is to be itself.


Takeaways from the Data

  1. 84% of TikTok videos underperform in emotional engagement and brand recall.
  2. 24% of TikTok videos evoke negative emotions, harming brand trust.
  3. User-generated content (55.7%) outshines branded challenges (13.1%) in effectiveness.
  4. Community feedback (67.8%) is critical for shaping successful campaigns.

from here here and here


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