TikTok at the polls

Follow Us Get the newsletter Hi folks, it's Shelly. Facebook Inc. and Twitter Inc. have banned political campaign ads in the days leading up the U.S. election, attempting to tamp down on misinformation that might interfere with voting. But that doesn't mean there won't be an avalanche of new election-related content online over the next 48 hours. Even if the campaigns go quiet, social media users will still see updates on less-talked-about channels like texts, private groups, chat rooms and live streams. For example, some political organizations have recently shifted their attention and resources to text messages, which have less policing or transparency than other social media. In a study published last week, the Center for Media Engagement at the University of Texas at Austin called texting a "potent vector for false information." Meanwhile live-streaming, particularly on newer platforms like TikTok, gives people what feels like an intimate look at the political conversations that are happening in bedrooms and living rooms around America.  The other night, I spent a few hours watching streams of people I didn't know on TikTok talking at length about the election. It felt oddly voyeuristic, but also downright scary. TikTokers discussed why face masks don't work (they do), plus "proof" that Joe Biden suffers from dementia and the claim that Trump is going to free imprisoned rapper YNW Melly.  A TikTok spokeswoman declined to comment on misinformation found in user's live stream videos but pointed Bloomberg to a previous statement around additional resources the company is putting in place to educate its users. TikTok has also said it's stepping up fact-checking operations, but this will be the company's first U.S. general election, and since most of the live streams on TikTok aren't recorded or shared, they will likely be extremely difficult for the platform to police or for independent observers to track. Of course, some TikTok election content reaches only a handful of people, but many of the streams I landed on had hundreds or thousands of viewers at any given moment. What's more, while TikTok was one of the first platforms to permanently ban political advertising on the app, the company has less visibility into the side deals that popular creators and influencers strike with political groups. Unlike brand advertising that's regulated by the Federal Trade Commission, paid political ads by influencers exist in a sort of legal and regulatory gray zone. And while live-streaming is difficult to police, there may be even less oversight into other media, including texting, campaign apps and digital wallet passes—all of which are now "poised to bring political messaging to even higher levels of intimacy and efficacy, and, disturbingly, render them difficult to factually audit by outsiders," according to the Center for Media Engagement.  You might not see many political ads online in the coming days, but there will be no shortage of election content.  —Shelly Banjo If you read one thing Hims built a $1.6 billion telehealth empire mailing people prescription drugs. Bloomberg's Kristen V. Brown and Gerrit De Vynck look at what's next for the company as it aims for the public markets, and whether, when it comes to pharmaceuticals, there's such a thing as "too easy."  Paid Post With capabilities across server, storage, and networking, QCT has disrupted the telco space to expedite network transformation with Intel and Rakuten Mobile to revolutionize the way carriers plan, deploy, and manage their infrastructure.  See How QCT and Rakuten Mobile Lead the Telecom Disruptions! QCT & Intel And here's what you need to know in global technology news Tech stocks slumped last week, even though the biggest companies posted solid numbers in their quarterly earnings reports. Investors are questioning whether the industry's recent soaring valuations are sustainable.  Airbnb is creating an endowment that will offer grants to cover its hosts' financial needs once it goes public.  Apple was told to pay VirnetX $503 million, the latest turn in a decade-long patent trial.  Apple will replace some AirPods Pro earbuds with sound and noise-cancellation issues, as the company gears up to release new models next year.    Like Fully Charged? | Get unlimited access to Bloomberg.com, where you'll find trusted, data-based journalism in 120 countries around the world and expert analysis from exclusive daily newsletters.   You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg's Fully Charged newsletter. Unsubscribe | Bloomberg.com | Contact Us Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington, New York, NY, 10022