When tech companies consistently prioritize profits over people or try to cut corners on safety and ethical practices, it erodes trust and ultimately undermines the very foundation of our democracy .

From #meta cutting its fact-checking team to TikTok's potential demise in the US, this episode uncovers the hidden connections behind today's biggest tech headlines like:

- Meta's mass layoffs and fact-checker purge

- TikTok's looming US ban and the surprising rise of RedNote

- The silent dismantling of DEI programs across Big Tech

In episode 96, Grace breaks down recent alarming tech trends and reveals 3 crucial lessons for tech workers and content creators navigating this new landscape. Discover how these changes impact your digital rights and learn strategies to protect your online presence.

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DISCLAIMER: This video is based on my personal opinion and research.

SOURCES:

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-58719674

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/04/23/congress-passes-tiktok-ban-biden-china/73424172007/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2025/01/15/these-billionaires-companies-and-investors-elon-musk-frank-mccourt-and-more-could-buy-tiktok-as-ban-looms/

https://www.npr.org/2025/01/04/nx-s1-5248299/cartoonist-quits-wapo-over-bezos-trump-cartoon-washingtonpost

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/01/15/donald-trump-tiktok-ban/77724323007/

https://about.fb.com/news/2025/01/meta-more-speech-fewer-mistakes/

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/meta-end-diversity-programs-ahead-trump-inauguration-2025-01-10/

https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/17/tiktok-ceo-responds-to-trump-thanks-him-for-trying-to-solve-us-ban/

https://www.npr.org/2025/01/15/nx-s1-5260742/tiktok-china-rednote-xiaohongshu-app

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/15/republicans-dei-la-fires-00198551

https://www.npr.org/2025/01/10/nx-s1-5252757/california-wildfires-dei-diversity-influencers-firefighters

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/meta-dei-programs-mcdonalds-walmart-ford-diversity/

https://www.axios.com/2025/01/10/meta-dei-programs-employees-trump

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1225172096

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jodiecook/2025/01/14/what-the-tiktok-ban-means-for-your-business/

https://x.com/jason/status/1876767521912897540?s=46

https://babylonbee.com/news/guy-who-said-facebook-was-not-suppressing-free-speech-announces-facebook-will-stop-suppressing-free-speech

https://apnews.com/article/meta-facebook-zuckerberg-board-members-dana-white-199436c62c934ebb751b564f874ad2f6

https://thehill.com/policy/technology/4988461-meta-antitrust-case-ftc/amp/

https://www.businessinsider.com/low-performer-label-meta-microsoft-layoffs-impact-recruiters-experts-2025-1

https://fortune.com/2025/01/15/tiktok-ceo-shou-zi-chew-mark-zuckerberg-intern-facebook/

https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-buyers-divestment-ban-8429dfb422c4cefb6b0807aeb2c5cd56

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/15/republicans-dei-la-fires-00198551

https://time.com/7206543/the-los-angeles-fires-have-nothing-to-do-with-dei/

https://x.com/armankhon/status/1880647301494132930?s=46

96 | The Real Reason Behind the Tiktok US Ban, Meta's MAGA Makeover, and RedNote's "Sudden" Rise