The Hubcity Newsletter
Posts
🤳The TikTok Ban Is Bigger Than You Know!🤳

🤳The TikTok Ban Is Bigger Than You Know!🤳

🗡️ This Is A Double Edged Sword! 🗡️

January 19, 2025

Despite The Bipolar Weather This Week, Here’s To Another Beautiful Sunday! 😂

Quite a few of you emailed us asking if we’d take the time to talk about the TikTok Ban. With about 95% of our readers being parents, grandparents, or working in jobs and businesses that serve families, we decided to put off our original edition to address this topic!

In Today’s “HubCity Newsletter”:

China Does Own TikTok 🇨🇳
The US Government Can’t Control It 🇺🇸
The Double Edged Sword 🗡️
This Generation & Beyond 🚸
Weekly Events For The Kids 🛝
Weekly Events For The Whole Family 🎡

Read Time: 3 - 5 Minutes

This may be a little bit longer but it will impact both your children and grandchildren alike. “Your Generation May Not Care About Social Media Or TikTok But More Than LIkely Your Kids & Grandkids Do!”

🇨🇳 China Does Own TikTok 🇨🇳

TikTok is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, and under Chinese law, every company must comply with requests from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)—not “if they want to” but must. 😬

What makes this extra concerning is how the platform is built. Fun fact: China has its own version of TikTok, called Douyin, which is much more educational and productive out of the box than the U.S. version. 🤔 (Many say that this was by design.)

But here’s the kicker—both TikTok and Douyin were created by the same engineers in China. Any backdoors, exploits, or vulnerabilities in the system could already be built in.

These kinds of security flaws (known as Zero-Day Exploits) can take months or years to discover, even by the best cybersecurity experts. So, while many people dismiss these concerns, it’s a real issue.

🇺🇸 The US Government Can’t Control It 🇺🇸

Here’s the other side of the sword. TikTok has become so much more than dances, twerking videos and silly trends. For many, TikTok is a news source, a business tool, online community and a game-changer for all creators. It has become a business threat to traditional news outlets, music and movie production companies, Google, YouTube, Amazon, and the list goes on.

Why is TikTok so powerful?
➡️ Its algorithm is light-years ahead of the competition. In just the last 5 years, TikTok forced giants like Facebook, Instagram, Google and YouTube to completely rethink how they operate.
➡️ A random person can start a TikTok account and, within months, having hundred of thousands of followers and reach millions of people around the world—for free.
➡️ It’s become the fastest platform for launching books, music, clothing lines, businesses, and even careers.

TikTok has also innovated with things like in-video shopping ads, which were so successful that other platforms like Instagram and YouTube were forced to copy them.

Why Ban It?

The U.S. government can’t control TikTok the way it can with other platforms. Many of TikTok’s competitors (like Facebook and YouTube) have poured money into lobbying for a ban, because, guess what?, they stand to gain the most from TikTok being taken off the table.

There have been several content creators and TikTok accounts that have posted content hours, days or weeks before the mainstream media picks it up.

🗡️ The Double Edged Sword 🗡️

The TikTok controversy is truly a double-edged sword, and the 170 million Americans who use the app find themselves caught in the middle of this tricky situation. On one hand, there are legitimate security concerns about TikTok being owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. And the data being used by the (CCP) Chinese Communist Party.

(One Of The Laws 👉️) By law , Chinese companies are required to comply with requests from the Chinese government, which raises fears about potential data breaches or misuse of user information. These concerns aren’t just theoretical, they’ve fueled debates about national security and personal privacy for years.

As Many More Countries Come Online, TikTok Will Likely Surpass Instagram By 2030.

But on the other hand, TikTok offers benefits that no other platform has matched. It’s a launchpad for small businesses, a career-changer for content creators, and even an educational tool.

Its unmatched algorithm gives a global reach without needing a massive budget or years of experience. TikTok has revolutionized the way social media works, forcing platforms like Instagram, Facebook and YouTube to scramble to keep up.

So what’s the alternative? Right now the race is on for TikTok to be sold to a U.S. company to alleviate security concerns. But even that comes with complications. Would Americans feel more comfortable handing over their data to a U.S. tech giant, especially given how much influence these companies already wield over our lives?

This solution might solve the security issue, but it raises another: giving the U.S. government even more control/leverage over a powerful platform, and by extension, the flow of information and content.

At its core, this is the dilemma: TikTok is an app that millions rely on for connection, creativity, and even financial stability, but the price of using it may be greater control over our data, whether by foreign or domestic powers.

🚸 This Generation & Beyond 🚸

Gone are the days when you would ask kids what they want to be when they grow up and the most popular answers teacher, doctor, athlete etc. If you were to ask most kids today 1 of the top 3 answers: YouTuber, Content Creator or Influencer.

The genie is out of the bottle on this one and asking kids, teens, young and older adults to pretend like this doesn’t exist would be like asking you to go back to horse and buggy because you don’t like cars.

This Has Likely Drastically Changed Since 2019, Even For China!

They know that these things exist now, they know you can make life changing money from it and they know that going to college is no longer the only option to become successful. At this point even doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers and other professionals are quitting their jobs because of the money they are making from social media.

At the end of the day, this is a whole new world and things will never go back to being the way they were 20 or 30 years ago. If the ban on TikTok is permanent (which currently seems unlikely) we can guarantee that your kids or grandkids will find another way to access TikTok or another app will appear and take its place. If you can’t change it, then at the very least try to understand it.

Again “Your Generation May Not Care About Social Media Or TikTok But More Than LIkely Your Kids & Grandkids Do!” and if you don’t keep up with the times, everything will always be foreign to you.

The world is changing faster than ever, and understanding it might just be the best way to bridge the gap between generations.

What Do You Think?

Take our brief poll and let us know your thoughts! Finally, don’t forget to check out this weeks curated list of events happening in and around Jackson!

Refer A Business To Us & Earn Up To $300 For Every Successful Referral!
(Click Here For More Details.)

The Kid Zone
This Week’s Curated Events!
Monday, January 20th - Sunday, January 26th

Monday, January 20th

Story Time Station 📖
Date: Monday, January 20th
Time: 10:30 AM
Location: Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Price: Free

Tuesday, January 21st

Story Time 📖
Date: Tuesday, January 21st
Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Location:Main Library
Price: Free
Additional Details: Parents & Children Are Invited To Come Enjoy A Story, Sing, Dance, Craft & Make Friends All Under One Roof!

Wednesday, January 22nd

Toddler Open Time 🤸
Date: Wednesday, January 22nd
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Arrow Athletics
Price: $10
Ages: 5 & Under
Additional Details: Start Your Morning At The Gym With Friends While Your Toddler Plays To Get Some Energy Out As Well!

Thursday, January 23rd

Coding Club (Meet Fellow Programmers) 🖥️
Date: Thursday, January 23rd
Time: 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Location: Downtown Library
Price: Free
Ages: 9 Years Old & Up

Friday, January 24th

Nerf War Kids Night Out 🎯
Date: Friday, January 24th
Time: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Arrow Athletics
Price: (Click For Pricing)
Ages: 3 - 12 Years Old
Additional Details: Start Your Morning At The Gym With Friends While Your Toddler Plays To Get Some Energy Out As Well!

Saturday, January 25th

Pokemon Trading Club 🐈‍⬛
Date: Saturday, January 25th
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Location: Downtown Library
Additional Details: Meetup With Other Pokemon Enthusiasts To Talk, Make New Friends, Trade Pokemon Cards & Have Fun.

Disney Little Mermaid Jr (Auditions) 🎭
Date: Saturday, January 25th
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: VSS Dance
Ages: 4 - 18 Years Old
Additional Details: Come Out To Showcase Your Talent & Audition For Our Spring Musical. First Timers & Seasoned Performers Are Both Welcome To Audition.

Family Fun
This Week’s Curated Events!
Monday, January 20th - Sunday, January 26th

Monday, January 20th

City Thrift 50% Off MLK Day Sale 🛍️
Date: Monday, January 20th
Time: 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Location: City Thrift
Price: Varied

Story Time Station 📖
Date: Monday, January 20th
Time: 10:30 AM
Location: Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Price: Free

American Sign Language Practice 👌
Date: Monday, January 20th
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Location: Downtown Library
Price: Free
Ages: All Ages Welcome

Tuesday, January 21st

Music with Alice at The Yellow Canary 🎶
Date: Tuesday, January 21st
Time: 9:15 AM
Location: The Yellow Canary
Price: Click For Pricing
Age: (0 - 5 Years Old)
Additional Details: Get Ready For A High Engagement, Activity Focused Sing Along Experience For Your Toddlers.

Wednesday, January 22nd

Keto Meal Planning Class🍖
Date: Wednesday, January 22nd
Time: 11:30 PM - 12:30 PM
Location: Westwood Community Center
Price: Free
Additional Details: Get Ready To Learn Recipes From A Certified Instructor/Author In Our Free Keto Planning Class!

Advance Auto Parts Closing Sale! 🚘
Date: Wednesday, January 22nd
Time: 8:00 AM
Location: Advance Auto Parts
Price: (Prices Varied) 95% Off

Thursday, January 23rd

Coding Club (Meet Fellow Programmers) 🖥️
Date: Thursday, January 23rd
Time: 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Location: Downtown Library
Price: Free
Ages: 9 Years Old & Up

Friday, January 24th

2nd Annual Rock-A-Billy Rodeo 🐴
Date: Friday, January 24th
Time: 8:00 PM (Gates Open At 6:00 PM)
Location: McNairy AG Event Center
Price: $20 (Kids 12 & Under Free)
Additional Details: An Exciting Evening Awaits You At This Family Friendly Event! Show Your Support For These Professional Rodeo Athletes As They Display Their Skills Atop Their Trusty Steeds!

Toddler Open Time 🤸
Date: Friday, January 24th
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Arrow Athletics
Price: $10
Ages: 5 & Under
Additional Details: Start Your Morning At The Gym With Friends While Your Toddler Plays To Get Some Energy Out As Well!

Saturday, January 25th

January - Monthly Market 🛍️
Date: Saturday, January 25th
Time: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Location: Beech Bluff Recreation Center
Price: Free Entry (Merchandise Pricing Vary)
Additional Details: Baked Goods, Custom Shirts, Embroidered Hats, Jewelry & So Much More! Come Out To Support Local Businesses & Have A Blast Doing It!

Tween & Teen Sewing 🧶
Date: Saturday, January 25th
Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location: Main Library
Price: Free
Age: 11 - 18 (Parent Must Be Present For 13 & Under)
Additional Details: All Skill Levels Are Welcomed, We Will Be Making Ornaments Or Stockings.

2nd Annual Rock-A-Billy Rodeo 🐴
Date: Saturday, January 25th
Time: 8:00 PM (Gates Open At 6:00 PM)
Location: McNairy AG Event Center
Price: $20 (Kids 12 & Under Free)
Additional Details: An Exciting Evening Awaits You At This Family Friendly Event! Show Your Support For These Professional Rodeo Athletes As They Display Their Skills Atop Their Trusty Steeds!

Sunday, January 26th

Disney Little Mermaid Jr (Auditions) 🎭
Date: Sunday, January 26th
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: VSS Dance
Ages: 4 - 18 Years Old
Additional Details: Come Out To Showcase Your Talent & Audition For Our Spring Musical. First Timers & Seasoned Performers Are Both Welcome To Audition.

Advertise In One Of The Fastest Growing Newsletters In West TN!
(Click Here For More Details.)

THANK YOU FOR READING!
If you found anything useful in this week's HubCity Newsletter, we would appreciate you sharing the newsletters with someone else who could benefit from it.

Reply

or to participate.