The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
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Washington DC, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Friday to uphold a new law that could result in a nationwide ban on TikTok, the immensely popular social media platform, as early as Sunday. The decision has left millions of American users uncertain about the app’s future.
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The Chinese government is reportedly considering a proposal for Elon Musk to acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations, potentially averting a looming ban on the popular social media platform. According to Bloomberg News, the plan is among several options being explored as the U.S. Supreme Court deliberates on whether to enforce a law mandating the divestment of TikTok’s U.S. business by January 19, 2025.
Continue reading China Weighs Elon Musk Acquisition of TikTok U.S. Operations Amid Legal Battle
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Ridgewood NJ, the clock is ticking for TikTok as the popular app’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, faces a potential U.S. ban beginning January 19, 2024. A three-judge panel in Washington upheld a federal law requiring ByteDance to divest its ownership or risk losing access to the U.S. market. The ruling dismissed TikTok’s arguments that the ban violates First Amendment protections, leaving the Supreme Court as its last major hope to block enforcement.
Continue reading TikTok Faces U.S. Ban as Appeals Court Upholds Federal Restrictions
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Montclair NJ, a “stuck on stupid”, TikTok user known as Ambamelia has found herself at the center of viral controversy after filming herself tearing down Greek flags outside a New Jersey restaurant, mistakenly thinking they were Israeli flags. The incident occurred at Efi’s Gyro in Montclair, where the TikToker aimed to make a political statement but ended up becoming the subject of widespread ridicule.
Continue reading TikToker Mistakes Greek Flags for Israeli Ones, Sparks Viral Backlash
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Hackensack NJ, the New Jersey Supreme Court has suspended a Bergen County judge from judicial office for three months, following accusations of inappropriate behavior on social media. Judge Gary N. Wilcox was found to have violated three judicial conduct rules by posting a series of TikTok videos that were deemed inappropriate. His suspension, which is without pay, will last from October 8, 2024, to January 8, 2025.
Continue reading New Jersey Judge Suspended Over TikTok Videos: What Happened and Why It Matters
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Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey’s Attorney General, Matthew J. Platkin, alongside the Division of Consumer Affairs, has filed a lawsuit against social media giant TikTok, accusing the platform of engaging in deceptive and abusive practices that endanger the health and safety of the state’s youth. This action follows a multi-year investigation and is part of a growing national movement to hold social media companies accountable for their harmful impact on young users.
Continue reading New Jersey Sues TikTok for Exploitative Practices Targeting Youth
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Ridgewood NJ, in recent weeks, New Jersey schools and law enforcement have been grappling with a wave of school shooting threats circulating on social media platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook. This alarming trend, which mirrors incidents nationwide, has led to police investigations, lockdowns, and multiple student arrests, including that of a 10-year-old in South Jersey. The Ridgewood blog has reported lockdowns in Westwood , Bloomfield and Waldwick.
Continue reading School Shooting Threats Sweep New Jersey, Fueled by National Social Media Trend
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Ridgewood NJ, on Monday, TikTok took its case to the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, arguing against a law that could force the company to either find a non-Chinese buyer or face a nationwide ban. The law, passed by Congress in April, claims that TikTok poses a national security threat due to its ties to its parent company, ByteDance, which is based in China. Chinese laws allow the government access to user data, which the US government argues puts American users at risk and opens the door for Chinese propaganda to be spread through the platform.
Continue reading TikTok Fights Back in Court Over Potential Nationwide Ban
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Ridgewood NJ, TikTok is currently working on a new version of its recommendation algorithm specifically for US users. This development aims to create a system that operates independently of its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, potentially making the platform more acceptable to US lawmakers who have expressed concerns and proposed banning the app. The project commenced before legislative efforts to force a sale of TikTok’s US operations gained momentum in Congress earlier this year. While this initiative could facilitate the eventual divestiture of TikTok’s US assets, the company has stated that it has no current plans to sell its US operations.
Continue reading TikTok Creating a US Copy of the App’s Core Algorithm
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Washington DC, the US House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted 352-65 in favor of a bill that would ban TikTok in the United States unless its Chinese parent company, Bytedance, sells off its US operations within six months. While the bill’s fate in the Senate remains uncertain, President Joe Biden has indicated his willingness to sign it if it clears both chambers of Congress.
Continue reading TikTok Ban Moves Forward, Mnuchin Assembles Investor Group
It can be difficult to feel close and intimate with our partners or friends due to the physical distance that often separates us. To bridge this gap, we might turn to online entertainment to share an experience virtually. Unfortunately, these activities can sometimes come up short when it comes to bringing two people closer together. However, there are several steps you can take to ensure that your online entertainment experiences foster meaningful connections with those you care about.
Continue reading 6 Key Ways to Foster Intimacy through Online Entertainment
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Ridgewood NJ, Gannett the owner of Northjersey.com (the Bergen Record) and the largest newspaper publisher in the US, filed a federal lawsuit against Google and its parent company, Alphabet. Gannett claims the tech giant is violating antitrust laws by holding a monopoly over the digital advertising business and controlling how publishers buy and sell ads online, leading to less revenue for publishers and Google’s ad rivals.
Continue reading Ad Wars ,Gannett the Owner of the Bergen Record Sues Google
photo courtesy of Judy Björkman Parker Facebook page
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Dumont Nj, temperamental celebrity Chief Gordon Ramsay is filming”Kitchen Nightmares” in New Jersey. “Kitchen Nightmares” first aired on September 19, 2007. The reality show in which Gordon Ramsay was invited by failing restaurants to come in and turn them around called it quits in 2014 after 7 seasons and 92 episodes.
Continue reading Gordon Ramsay Seen Filming “Kitchen Nightmares” in Dumont
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Helena Montana , at that time, the United States, India, and some other countries had considered or implemented bans or restrictions on TikTok due to concerns over data privacy and national security.
Montana governor Greg Gianforte banned TikTok in the state, citing fears of the “Chinese Communist Party.”
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Ridgewood NJ, Bloomsbury, the book publisher behind the Harry Potter series, just raised its revenue expectations for its latest financial year to £260m, up from the previously expected £243m. That’s some 40% higher than the company managed just 2 years ago.
