Manuscripts Of Dread

“I really like corn”

Cringy boys

WombLands

Nyadollie

Leah Halton

Bella Poarch

These are just a few of the biggest things to come out of TikTok over the past few years.

This TikTok ban, make no mistake, has 110% nothing to do with national security. It is absolutely about controlling the narrative, and controlling the way we think.

TikTok is an American Company. Lets begin here:

It is a SUBSIDIARY of a PARENT company called ByteDance. It is an LLC (Limited Liability Company) that is incorporated through Delaware, and based in California.

While it’s Parent company, ByteDance is a Chinese company, the very basic structure of what an LLC is, and how that works under American Business Law prevents ByteDance from having ANY hand in how Tik Tok LLC handles their business. The only connection they have is a shared algorithm.

Now before you panic about that: all that means is that the system uses a set of instructions that tells a computer how to perform a task or solve a problem. That’s it. They simply use the same kind of techniques for problem solving. They are not connected in any way.

Now, you may be asking yourself “what is a subsidiary?”

A subsidiary is defined as  a business entity or corporation that is fully owned or partially controlled by another company, termed as the parent, or holding, company by the corporate finance institute.

A subsidiary, by definition, acts independently of the parent company. It’s obligations are purely their own, with the parent company holding little to no liability for the actions of their subsidiary.

Now: What does it mean for a company to be incorporated?

Put simply: When a business is incorporated, it becomes a legally distinct entity from its owners, and is recognized by the state as its own business structure.

Being incorporated allows the company:

• Liability protectionIncorporation protects the owners from personal liability. 
• Tax advantagesIncorporated businesses can deduct certain expenses, such as employee benefits, real estate investments, and salaries. 
• CredibilityIncorporated businesses are often seen as more credible by potential customers, employees, and vendors. 
• GovernanceIncorporation provides a structured approach to ownership transfers and governance. 

To incorporate a business, the owners must file “articles of incorporation” with the state agency where the business is located. These articles include information about the business’s purpose, location, and any shares or stock issued.

But there is another side to this issue, and that is indie businesses.

I am an avid member of BookTok. While I may not be known on it (or anywhere, really), TikTok has allowed me to feel less alone. I see other people writing, other artists, writers, musicians, small business owners, etc. Thriving on TikTok. Indie book stores who struggled during the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic have found a new home where their businesses can flourish.

And again, for people like me, it’s a home. Weather I’m doom scrolling at 3 am, or learning how to make sourdough starter, Tik Tok has become a home.

I’m not going to argue about why this is an infringement on the first amendment, as there are others with much more knowledge on the subject than I who have already beat this dead horse into the afterlife.

I will just say this:

This is Bullshit.