I don’t get the connection between losing access to tik tok and starting a +20 years journey to learn chinese
It shouldn’t take quite that long.
Shame it’s Duolingo though. HelloChinese and DuChinese are way better for actually learning the language.
HelloChinese is a little better on content and a lot better on not being an annoying ad machine.
Can anyone explain to me what makes TikTok and now this RedNote so much better than the other short form options (YT, Insta… others) that people think learning a completely different and unfamiliar language is not only viable, but the best option?
I want to learn another language for travel purposes, which to me makes sense. I’ve never had the itch to learn one so I could use a social media platform.
I wouldn’t overthink it. It’s just a youthful rebellion/protest thing. Old people banned an app young people like and young people were like, “Ok, fine. We’ll use a different app, assholes.” And they found one even more Chinese just to be obnoxious.
But to answer your primary question, Instagram is a bloated app with a terrible algorithm made by a garbage company owned by a garbage person. But just as important, Instagram is also where TikTok users’ parents are. Youths don’t want to hang out with friends where their parents are watching. Hell, I’m middle-aged and I was annoyed when my mom followed me on Instagram. Like, “Stay on Facebook, mom. That’s the boomer app.”
I’m sure almost every TikTok user is a YouTube user too. But YouTube Shorts isn’t the same as TikTok. Shorts are basically a way for established creators who make longer, professional videos to make little casual ones between their main video releases. It’s not a drop-in replacement for TikTok. The vibe is different. (If Shorts had been released as a totally separate app with a separate algorithm, it’d be a drop-in replacement for TikTok but they just duct taped it onto YouTube proper.)
Plus, the data and national security excuses were always horseshit. Congress was trying to protect American dominance in social media and during the debate, members of Congress said their issue with TikTok was that it didn’t have an Israel boner. https://forward.com/culture/688840/tiktok-ban-gaza-palestine-israel-antisemitism/
Forward is a publication aimed at a Jewish audience, for the record, so that’s not some antisemitic conspiracy theory.
Can you just use duolingo as a translator?
Firefly timeline!
FIREFLY TIMELINE!!
FIREFLY TIMELINE!!!
Just as I finally see Chinese culture gaining more global cultural relevance— and it had to be in order to bypass a ban of an intrusive app.
the app wasn’t banned, the company refused to split American operations off.
so instead of 25 people learning Mandarin now there are 79 people learning Mandarin.
About 15 years ago there was a saying that optimists are learning Russian now.
Pessimists Chinese.
I’ve just learned how to say fuck America, 他媽的美國
removed by mod
Did I hurt your nationalistic feelers?
Oh yeah, I’m a real patriot. God bless the USA! DM me when you move to China.
Que se cague China, América, Rusia… la lista sigue
Stop sucking superpower’s dicks
