96 | The Real Reason Behind the Tiktok US Ban, Meta's MAGA Makeover, and RedNote's "Sudden" Rise

When tech companies consistently prioritize profits over people or try to cut corners on safety and ethical practices, it erodes trust and ultimately undermines the very foundation of our democracy .   From #meta cutting its fact-checking team to TikTok's potential demise in the US, this episode uncovers the hidden connections behind today's biggest tech headlines like:   -  Meta's mass layoffs and fact-checker purge -  TikTok's looming US ban and the surprising rise of RedNote -  The silent dismantling of DEI programs across Big Tech   In episode 96, Grace breaks down recent alarming tech trends and reveals 3 crucial lessons for tech workers and content creators navigating this new landscape. Discover how these changes impact your digital rights and learn strategies to protect your online presence.     🎯  SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWS LETTER: https://substack.com/@techunlockedpodcast?   💡 Connect with Grace: https://www.instagram.com/gracemacjonez/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracemacjones/   Follow Tech Unlocked for more career tips and tech news: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@techunlockedpod Instagram: @techunlockedpod TikTok: @techunlockedpod   Questions about sponsorship? Email us [email protected] DISCLAIMER: This video is based on my personal opinion and research.   SOURCES: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-58719674 https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/04/23/congress-passes-tiktok-ban-biden-china/73424172007/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2025/01/15/these-billionaires-companies-and-investors-elon-musk-frank-mccourt-and-more-could-buy-tiktok-as-ban-looms/ https://www.npr.org/2025/01/04/nx-s1-5248299/cartoonist-quits-wapo-over-bezos-trump-cartoon-washingtonpost https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/01/15/donald-trump-tiktok-ban/77724323007/ https://about.fb.com/news/2025/01/meta-more-speech-fewer-mistakes/ https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/meta-end-diversity-programs-ahead-trump-inauguration-2025-01-10/ https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/17/tiktok-ceo-responds-to-trump-thanks-him-for-trying-to-solve-us-ban/ https://www.npr.org/2025/01/15/nx-s1-5260742/tiktok-china-rednote-xiaohongshu-app https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/15/republicans-dei-la-fires-00198551 https://www.npr.org/2025/01/10/nx-s1-5252757/california-wildfires-dei-diversity-influencers-firefighters https://www.cbsnews.com/news/meta-dei-programs-mcdonalds-walmart-ford-diversity/ https://www.axios.com/2025/01/10/meta-dei-programs-employees-trump https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1225172096 https://www.forbes.com/sites/jodiecook/2025/01/14/what-the-tiktok-ban-means-for-your-business/ https://x.com/jason/status/1876767521912897540?s=46 https://babylonbee.com/news/guy-who-said-facebook-was-not-suppressing-free-speech-announces-facebook-will-stop-suppressing-free-speech https://apnews.com/article/meta-facebook-zuckerberg-board-members-dana-white-199436c62c934ebb751b564f874ad2f6 https://thehill.com/policy/technology/4988461-meta-antitrust-case-ftc/amp/ https://www.businessinsider.com/low-performer-label-meta-microsoft-layoffs-impact-recruiters-experts-2025-1 https://fortune.com/2025/01/15/tiktok-ceo-shou-zi-chew-mark-zuckerberg-intern-facebook/ https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-buyers-divestment-ban-8429dfb422c4cefb6b0807aeb2c5cd56 https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/15/republicans-dei-la-fires-00198551 https://time.com/7206543/the-los-angeles-fires-have-nothing-to-do-with-dei/ https://x.com/armankhon/status/1880647301494132930?s=46