Posted on: January 11, 2025, 6:15 am

I was just watching a TikTok about the upcoming ban, and the lady said something like, "They want to ban me from watching Chinese TikTok, as I watch it on my Chinese-made phone, in my Chinese-made clothes." That got me thinking.

Why is TikTok such a threat to national security, but outsourcing American jobs to China over the last 30 years is not? The answer seems to be that America primarily caters to corporate interests. The ban appears to be more about protecting Meta, the owner of Instagram and Facebook, as well as X, than about any genuine threat TikTok poses. The notion that TikTok is harmful to its users seems like a scapegoat.

When it comes to content, American-owned social media apps like X, Reddit, Instagram, and Facebook are far more toxic and damaging to society. They also collect astronomically more user data. And let’s not even start on Google and the evil ways they operate. TikTok is the only platform I can access right now where I consistently have a positive experience. So why is that considered a national security issue? 🤔

As for the ban, all they can really do is make Apple and Google remove the app from their app stores. People would still be able to access TikTok through a web browser or sideload the app if they wanted to. Depending on the demand, easy workarounds will likely pop up.

Posted on: January 5, 2025, 10:53 am

I’ve been seeing talk of the Dead Internet Theory again, and I wanted to provide some insight since the internet is, in a way, my domain by profession.

The theory basically suggests that most people have abandoned the internet and been replaced by AI bots. In my view, what people are actually observing and feeling is a shift. People have moved on from mainstream social media apps, while AI has taken up residence on those older platforms.

Where did everyone go?

To more intimate and private digital spaces. This could mean a private Discord group instead of an old-school forum on a website, or group messaging on their phones instead of Facebook.

So, I believe the Dead Internet Theory is simply a reflection of a shift away from the traditional hangout spots of the last 10-15 years.

Posted on: January 4, 2025, 11:16 am

Twitch is built around community-driven content and support, with subscriptions being one of the primary ways for fans to financially support their favorite streamers. I see an emerging trend on the platform with some streamers manipulating the subscription system, leveraging regional pricing and psychological tactics to boost their earnings.

How the Scam Works:

Twitch introduced region-based subscription pricing in 2021 to make supporting creators more accessible worldwide. Subscription prices are adjusted based on local purchasing power, allowing fans from lower-income countries to subscribe for a fraction of the cost paid in wealthier regions. While this policy has undoubtedly helped equalize access to content, it has also opened the door for exploitation. Here’s how the scam unfolds:

Leveraging Cheap Sub Prices - Streamers organize a "team" (often friends, moderators, or alternate accounts) to start "sub trains" — rapid streaks of subscriptions during live streams. By using accounts tied to regions with significantly cheaper subscription prices (as low as $1.49 in some countries compared to $5.99 in the U.S.), these team members initiate the train with minimal investment.

Exploiting FOMO - Once the sub train gains momentum, viewers are urged to join in, often with high-energy prompts like flashy alerts, timers, or competitive goals to hit the "next milestone." These tactics prey on viewers' fear of missing out on being part of the action or contributing to the streamer’s apparent success. Many viewers, unaware of the manipulation, purchase subscriptions or gift them to others at their region's full price.

Net Gain for Streamers - The math is simple: streamers receive approximately 50% to 70% of the subscription revenue (depending on their Twitch agreement). By leveraging cheaper regional prices to start the train, streamers minimize their costs. When viewers from higher-priced regions jump on board, the streamer reaps the benefits of the higher cut, creating a significant profit margin.

A Hypothetical Breakdown - Initial Investment (Cheap Sub Prices): A team member subscribes or gifts 10 subscriptions from a country where the price is $1.49 per sub. The total cost is $14.90. The streamer earns roughly $7.45 (50% revenue split).

Viewer Participation (Standard Sub Prices): Motivated by the sub train, 20 U.S.-based viewers gift subscriptions at $5.99 each, totaling $119.80. The streamer earns $59.90.

Net Profit: For an initial investment of $14.90, the streamer generates $59.90, resulting in a net gain of $45.00.

While this tactic might seem like a clever hustle to some, it raises serious ethical concerns:

Deceptive Practices - Using low-cost regions to artificially inflate subscription activity misleads genuine supporters, undermining the authenticity of community engagement.

Exploiting Viewers’ Trust - Loyal viewers may unknowingly spend money under false pretenses, believing they are part of an organic sub train rather than a staged event.

Impact on Small Streamers - This practice creates an uneven playing field, making it harder for honest small streamers to grow and compete.

Twitch Policy Violations - Twitch has clear policies against deceptive practices and harm to the platform. While this tactic may skirt the line, it could attract scrutiny from the platform, leading to penalties or bans.

The Twitch subscription scam highlights the darker side of creativity in monetization. While the platform’s regional pricing model was designed to foster inclusivity, it is now being exploited by a good amount of streamers to manipulate their viewers. Addressing this issue requires effort from Twitch, its creators, and the community to uphold the integrity of the platform. For viewers, the best advice remains: support your favorite streamers, but stay informed and vigilant. Don’t let FOMO cloud your judgment when spending your hard-earned money.

Posted on: December 7, 2024, 5:10 am

I put in a lot of work today to establish the foundation of Hive. My goal is to make it super easy for anyone to use, with features like detecting and installing necessary server software. The aim is for almost anyone to install it on a VPS or dedicated server and have a fully functional server for hosting websites, email, and databases. I believe I successfully laid that foundation today and also created the basic visual layout for Hive.



Update (12/17/2024): Hive now has its own domain name, and the website is currently under development. You can check it out at: hivepanel.com.

Posted on: December 4, 2024, 9:47 pm

Bitcoin has finally reached a historic $100K per coin. It’ll be interesting to see where it goes next as it continues to build trust and momentum. While Bitcoin is not immune to market fluctuations, it is well-equipped to handle them. Here’s to hoping my next post about Bitcoin will be when it reaches $1 million.