The TikTok Dance
Uncanny Valley | WIRED25 Syys 2020

The TikTok Dance

In August, Trump signed executive orders that labeled both TikTok and another Chinese-owned app, WeChat, as national security threats. Unless they could broker a deal that would transfer majority control of the services over to American tech partners, both apps would be banned from the United States. The scramble that followed involved multiple competing companies and interests and raised the already heightened tensions between two feuding countries.

This week on Gadget Lab, WIRED staff writer Louise Matsakis joins us to talk about TikTok, WeChat, and how this fight might shape diplomatic relations between the US and China for years to come.

Show Notes:

Read Louise’s coverage of the TikTok controversies here and here.

Recommendations:

Louise recommends the book The Overstory by Richard Powers. Lauren recommends the show Schitt’s Creek. Mike recommends SF Urban Hiker’s Stairway Project and also just going on a hike yourself.

Louise Matsakis can be found on Twitter @lmatsakis. Lauren Goode is @LaurenGoode. Michael Calore is @snackfight. Bling the main hotline at @GadgetLab. The show is produced by Boone Ashworth (@booneashworth). Our executive producer is Alex Kapelman (@alexkapelman). Our theme music is by Solar Keys.

If you have feedback about the show, or just want to enter to win a $50 gift card, take our brief listener survey here.

Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Jaksot(426)

BIG INTV: The Onion's Ben Collins On How The Truth Can Pay Dividends

BIG INTV: The Onion's Ben Collins On How The Truth Can Pay Dividends

A year after relaunching The Onion in print, CEO Ben Collins sits down with Katie to talk about why “going into something and not ruining it is bravery.” He tells her the first order of business to ge...

2 Syys 202537min

WIRED Roundup: Meta’s AI Brain Drain

WIRED Roundup: Meta’s AI Brain Drain

In today’s episode, Zöe is joined by WIRED’s Leah Feiger to run through five of the best stories you need to know about — from how AI is eliminating entry level jobs to how a secretive Democrat group ...

29 Elo 202512min

This Is How You Log Off

This Is How You Log Off

As the summer comes to an end, we’re thinking about what unplugging, going offline — the ultimate luxury — looks like in 2025. With a growing slate of apps aiming to reduce our screen time and some te...

28 Elo 202525min

BIG INTV: Alexis Ohanian Says We Can Build A Less Toxic Internet

BIG INTV: Alexis Ohanian Says We Can Build A Less Toxic Internet

The Reddit co-founder sits down for a wide-ranging conversation, from buying his first video game to meeting his future co-founder on the first day of college.  When he’s not investing in the future o...

26 Elo 202548min

WIRED Roundup: Chip Manufacturers Bonanza

WIRED Roundup: Chip Manufacturers Bonanza

In today’s episode, Zöe is joined by WIRED’s Louise Matsakis to run through five of the best stories we published this week — from OpenAI’s being poised to become the highest valued startup in history...

22 Elo 202519min

How To Become a Vibe Coder

How To Become a Vibe Coder

Vibe coding is everywhere, and it’s already drastically changing the tech industry — from shaping how software gets made to who gets hired. So back in July, our very own Lauren Goode went on a journey...

21 Elo 202529min

Introducing: The BIG INTERVIEW with WIRED's Katie Drummond

Introducing: The BIG INTERVIEW with WIRED's Katie Drummond

A conversation series that only WIRED could host, led by WIRED’s Global Editorial Director, Katie Drummond. Every week, Katie sits down with influential figures in culture, politics, business, science...

19 Elo 20252min

WIRED Roundup: Why GPT-5 Flopped

WIRED Roundup: Why GPT-5 Flopped

In today’s episode, Zöe is joined by WIRED’s Jake Lahut to run through five of the best stories we published this week — from how the Trump administration is creating and sharing memes to make fun of ...

15 Elo 202517min