The TikTok ban and the iPhone monopoly | The Vergecast

The Verge’s David Pierce, Nilay Patel, and Alex Cranz answer questions from The Vergecast Hotline all about the TikTok ban debate and the US v Apple case.
Further reading:
TikTok ban: all the news on attempts to ban the video platform: www.theverge.com/23651507/tik...
US v. Apple: everything you need to know: www.theverge.com/24107581/doj...
The Curse of Bigness: Antitrust in the New Gilded Age: globalreports.columbia.edu/bo...
Join The Verge at the 2024 Chicago Humanities Spring Festival: www.theverge.com/24099817/ver...
Vote for The Vergecast in the Webbys: vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVo...
00:00 - Intro
01:53 - Vergecast Hotline
02:47 - Is the DOJ picking on Apple for being too successful?
11:28 - Is regulating Apple going to ruin their products?
19:14 - Why would we want a super app in the US?
25:55 - Is the TikTok ban a cover for US companies, and about power in an election year?
35:34- David has been brainwashed by TikTok?
47:44 - Most prohibition laws fail, right?
52:20 - What web apps do you use?
57:57 - Vote for us in the Webbys!
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[@rproaudio1]

Winning Capitalism should result in some degree of nationalization.

[@mocutobi]

"There's a frame TV in here just letting you know" 😭😭😭

[@mikemcclure3376]

I have to agree somewhat with the DOJ on this . After living outside the us in Europe long time and then returning home and getting an iPhone , I’d have to say I immediately noticed how much there is a lock in of services like the fact you have to have a active credit card enrolled and you can’t get free apps to download on the AppStore . Probably why the EU is always suing them . I feel like if I buy an iPhone outright unlocked that then becomes my property . I can understand security issues with sideloading and companies that compromise your data by not making security paramount , but I think consumers should have freedom of choice in every way . I do prefer WhatsApp over iMessage and I also prefer gmail over the  mail app, but I also understand the chaos that would ensue on an iPhone if everything was just open

[@tm7517]

Then don’t buy an iPhone. This is bizarre to me. Like yall know other phones exist. Apple can’t stop you from buying them.

[@mikemcclure3376]

@@tm7517 I keep an android phone always . For ease of use because of family I have an iPhone for iMessage and FaceTime purposes .

[@MorbidGod391]

45:16 that’s been my point. Selling TikTok doesn’t solve all of these problems. It only solves one potential issue.

[@dtbeach]

I’m not advocating for Apple. But I’ve never seen an advertisement on the settings screen??? Lost help me.

[@TonyTwoPhonius]

Had to do a podcast analysis for school. Became a fan of this podcast within the first 15 minutes.

[@SaladCookies]

To Nilay's point about Disney "being a champion of American values" - to an extent I think that's true, Disney IS a champion of American values. The thing is, that is not at all the same thing as having the best interests of Americans at heart.

[@suvansh29]

Here’s a bright idea, how about a centralised institution working for public interest create a unified payments interface (UPI) framework and all these companies can make client applications that plug into this UPI. All the user has to do is select one wallet application based on the features provided, no matter the bank account. America does so many simple things in a stupidly hard way…. Also we don’t have super apps here in India, there is probably more competition in this domain compared to the USA..

[@jonasking3670]

54:54 pihole mentioned. I use that interface all the time.

[@MorbidGod391]

14:00 it’s actually a lot of work to change banks - but if all banks do this, then you will have less choice.

[@ZackRappMusic]

Am I taking crazy pills? There are no ads on the iPhone settings screen. Where are these ads that everyone seems to agree are there?

[@cricketarena4926]

Keep in Mind TikTok will not be banned

[@ChompChunk]

wait why is there no video?

[@SquidVorb]

Only the Friday Vergecasts have full video.

[@ChompChunk]

@@SquidVorb oh my framework was if nilay is there then there is video but you're right

[@GoodOleGrant]

Alexandria VA target I know that Staples well! I didn’t realize you all were based out of the DMV.

[@MorbidGod391]

11:03 what ads are you seeing on the settings screen?

[@skyguardian1]

Every time you get a new iPhone there are constant pop ups in the setting screen for apple services 3 free month of Apple TV or apple new or Apple Arcade. Those are ads!

[@vastlylocal6584]

I think they are talking about when you first set up your iPhone you get the prompts to set up siri, sign up for Apple music, Apple tv and subscribe to more icloud storage. At least that is what I think.

[@izakshuvo8434]

The Nike thing aswell 😅

[@ZackRappMusic]

@@vastlylocal6584if that’s what they mean, that is so disingenuous to equate those to seeing, let’s say, a prompt to sign up for KZbin premium on the same screen. They’re apple’s own services, you can decline them and move on if you so choose. Why on God’s green earth anyone would want to open up the settings screen to 3rd party ads is so far beyond me.

[@MaxMiller94]

Have you guys never used Android? There's no wallet lock-in, so why would it happen with iOS?

[@rhietpas]

I kept wanting to scream through my headphones to just use Android as an example.

[@RudeCanine]

Speaking of getting funding, where does one even go to get some? Like no joke, my team and I have a product we would like to pitch and we already have a prototype.

[@AcronymAbuser]

“Is the government’s job to govern what I look at on my phone?” 40:08 No, BUT: we have decided that it is the government’s job to place and enforce restrictions on who can own and operate media platforms and tools in our “digital space.” What we see on our devices is downstream from this, of course, but this is principally different than deciding the government has carte blanche authority to deny digital access to any and all materials it finds objectionable. Tik Tok could be banned from distribution on the app store or other US based services, but the US government would not have the power or authority to stop citizens from accessing it through other means.

[@vincentaziati7430]

Early to the game

[@EvilSpyBoy]

I'm not ok with America owning every major social media platform - I am not American.

[@Deek6923]

Just get a welding mask

[@roryradio]

So obviously there is a reason vergecast is on the main channel. I would love for you to explain in more detail why? I’m curious, and the verge is so big I’m sure there is a smart reason for it.

[@Flor-ian]

They did this look back to when it first started showing up on the main.

[@robertwilcox9566]

People being frustrated over this is honestly pretty funny

[@izakshuvo8434]

I don't anything but I guess KZbin made changes in the background or were supposed to with audio apps and stuff 😅

[@t_yler]

It has to do with how KZbin handles podcasts. You can subscribe to the vergecast playlist or the channel as a whole

[@sullivan4052]

The vergecast 001 is on this channel.

[@bernardodounce]

Remember when the verge made amazing reviews instead of “podcasts”? 😢

[@DoctorSoftie]

Damn David looking old haha

[@MorbidGod391]

9:10 both of those examples are non examples though. You can have cloud gaming apps now and will have RCS this year probably with iOS 18.

[@skyguardian1]

Yes and no! This was not done willingly by Apple. For cloud gaming you can only do it on the web you cannot install and cloud gaming app unless your in Europe! For RCS they only announce that recently because they are receiving this lawsuit from the doj

[@madhavdhilip]

It happened because of regulatory pressures and not despite them. It's proof that regulations work and are necessary.

[@BoJoFohPah]

When you walk down the street and see a group of kids dancing in front of a phone or people you talk to mindlessly swiping up on their phone mid conversation you figure out just why Tiktok needs to be banned