so. remember when tiktok was going to destroy democracy and steal all our data because it was owned by china?
cool. well now it’s largely owned by larry ellison’s oracle (american billionaire, definitely not interested in your data at all 🙃).
here’s a quote from the new guy. “citizens will be on their best behavior, because we’re constantly recording & reporting what’s going on.”
the recap
ted cruz et al were absolutely screeching about how tiktok was a security threat because it was accessing american user data. i mean, they weren’t wrong – but the solution? give it to an american billionaire instead. the guy who literally owns a whole-ass Hawaiian island. (it’s okay, guys, i’m sure he earned it). that’s it, folks. that’s the whole, ingenious plan.
their real issue?
it wasn’t actually about surveillance. or data harvesting. the problem was that the wrong people were doing it.
american tech companies and incredibly stupidly-named “government agencies” have been hoovering up your data, selling it to whoever wants it, including China! (don’t get me wrong—data privacy IS a real issue. but if politicians actually cared about it, they’d regulate ALL of these companies. they haven’t. because they don’t.)
so now what?
it just means the surveillance is patriotic now???🦅 Or something??? yes, TikTok was sketchy AF! they still are! but so is literally every other social media platform.
why you should still be worried
whether it’s beijing or silicon valley… your content? the bummer is, it’s technically theirs.
your reach? controlled by an algorithm designed to keep you scrolling, not to serve your business or your creative gig.
and what happens when billionaires or governments (peas in a pod) decide they don’t like what you’re doing? well, we can only speculate but we kind of have an idea don’t we, folks?
the uncomfortable truth (again)
we know the social media platforms don’t care about us – but we keep showing up because…..
- it’s where everyone is
- it’s easy
- starting over somewhere else feels kind of impossible?
i get it. running a business is hard enough without adding “build your own digital infrastructure” to the list.
but the truth is all of this is only going to get worse. more consolidation. more billionaires and (possibly a fucking trillionaire) on the horizon. more algorithm changes. just a full menu of annoying and gross stuff. you can either keep playing the game and hope the rules don’t change, or you can build your own thing.
what “owning your space” actually means
i’m not saying quit social media. we’re literally on meta and tiktok (when we’re not banned, obvs) because that’s where people are. but social media should be your outpost, not your headquarters.
here’s the difference:
social media is your “sometimes” space: you show up and check-in, you post, you connect, you drive people somewhere YOU control – like your website, your email list, your actual community hub that no one can take away. those things are your headquarters.
the early internet had it right (fight me)
remember geocities? angelfire? personal blogs? (if you don’t, ask someone old like me 💾)
it was kinda ugly. but it was ours. just people making weird little corners of the internet and linking to each other. we can totally have that again – just with better fonts and without the under construction gifs. (unless you want those. i’m not judging. I love gifs, fight me).
okay but seriously what do you actually do
step 1: accept that this will keep happening & will keep getting worse
step 2: own your space
- get a website (doesn’t have to be fancy)
- collect emails (boring but super effective)
- build a community hub where people can find you when the next platform implodes
- go a little analog! remember flyers?! tack one up in your favorite coffee shop, book store, telephone pole.
step 3: use social media strategically
post there, connect there, but always drive people back to YOUR space.
step 4: stop waiting for the bottom to fall out
don’t wait until it’s necessary -but know that it will absolutely be necessary.
why hey!curbside exists
it’s not because we’re completely anti-social media (we use it). but because we’re tired of watching creatives and small businesses build their entire livelihood on platforms that don’t give a shit about them & can axe them at any moment. you deserve a space that’s yours. and yeah, we can help you build that. (no pressure, but like… we’re here. 🧷)
tl;dr (because this got long)
- tiktok went from “chinese spyware” to “american spyware”
- this will happen again (and again, and again)
- build your own space or keep renting from billionaires forever
- we can help if you want (seriously, that’s what we do)
made with heart, html, & a healthy distrust of billionaires
for the love of the old web 🪩
p.s. — if you’re thinking “but my audience is on tiktok!”… yeah. mine too. but when tiktok gets bought again in 3 years by “roman salute” guy or dick rocket man or whoever’s turn it is, how much of your audience will still be there?
