After all this time of degenerating and programming the brains of both children and adults alike, this move is more likely meant to make sure that this absurdly effective way of mass manipulation isn't used against their own best interest. Not ours. Theirs.
If this makes no sense, consider a more relatable perspective: It is like the difference between exposing a generation of children with the achievements of "Great People" and anything that sparks curiosity, compared to exposing them to entertainment and fun.
Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/search/does-china-really-force-tik...
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In China, kids use Douyin, not TikTok; it’s a separate app with its own rules and algorithm, though owned by the same company (ByteDance). In youth mode, the feed for minors is curated to push educational, cultural, science, history, and patriotic content, plus “positive energy” themes like academic or athletic achievement.
For Western teens, the default feed is much more entertainment‑driven: viral dances, humor, trends, aesthetics, drama, etc., though there is educational content if you actively seek it.
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You may, all for yourself, decide which side actually is the one that's bad for the people.