On the Radar: TikTok Ban, Google AI Lies and Weirdcore, Best TV Shows to Binge Watch

The Supreme Court Upheld the TikTok Ban. Now What?

What? Last April, President Biden signed a law with bipartisan support to ban TikTok in the United States due to national security concerns regarding the social media platform’s Chinese ownership. Since then, TikTok and its more than 170 million American users have been fighting back in court over alleged First Amendment violations. But yesterday, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the law would be upheld.

So What? There are quite a few things to note: This is the first time a popular social media platform has been shut down by the U.S. government. TikTok can keep operating if it divests itself from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. But mostly, we’ve really got to look at how it’s going to affect our kids.

Now What? Besides YouTube, TikTok is the most widely used app by teenagers. And even kids too young to create an account have flocked to the short-form video platform. Without access to the app, these same adolescents are going to start looking for alternatives. If TikTok’s privacy concerns—the main reason officials set the ban to begin with—bothered you before, then you might want to look carefully at any app your teen wants to download as a replacement. RedNote and Lemon8 (the top contenders) are both still Chinese-owned. Other U.S.-based apps, such as Instagram and Snapchat, offer broadly similar content but still may result in adverse mental health outcomes for adolescents. Your teen may be inclined to panic, but maybe you can use this opportunity to talk about how social media has affected his or her life—and hopefully encourage them to evaluate whether the benefits truly outweigh the costs.

Google AI Made Some Mistakes About Plugged In

What? We here at Plugged In were shocked earlier this week when a reader sent us an email informing us that a recent Google search, summarized by AI, told the reader that we had recommended several movies that were rated R.

So What? Upon further investigation, it seems the AI was confused, compiling a list of the movies we had most recently reviewed. But dedicated readers of Plugged In know that we don’t actually recommend any movies, let alone films with R-rated content concerns. Sure, we’ll make suggestions every now and then, but we always encourage families to read our reviews, evaluate the content within, and then make the best decision for your family.

Now What? More than anything, this serves as an example of why we should always fact check any information acquired through AI—even when we think we can trust the source. Many news stories and studies have demonstrated how fallible artificial intelligence can be. And when we take it for granted, we’re liable to believe a lie.

A ‘Weirdcore’ Video Accumulated 300 Million Views

What? “Weirdcore” is a visual aesthetic that “evokes feelings of confusion, nostalgia and unease,” writes Jesus Diaz for Fast Company. Many artists are using AI to create these unnerving fantasies and posting them all over Instagram, TikTok and Reddit.

So What? Weirdcore used to be fringe, online entertainment. But thanks to the upsurge in AI use, artists who specialize in this odd style are now creating videos for musicians like Snoop Dogg and even ads playing in Times Square. One weirdcore video, created by visual artist Edmond Yang, racked up 300 million views, with a total watch time of nearly 100 years.

Now What? The goal of most weirdcore artists is to entertain, spark curiosity and even connect with people, Diaz writes. But some artists delve into darker realms, such as Belgian artist Florian Nackaerts, who focuses on “body horror surrealism.” So if your teen is interested in this edgy genre, you may want to keep an eye on what he or she is watching. Most often the videos are just weird, funny even. But you can come across some really freaky, unsettling stuff that will just give you—and perhaps your kids—nightmares.