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With 30% tariffs aimed at the EU, it might be time to explore measures other than counter-tariffs or anti-coercion instruments. Earlier this year, we published an oped with a radical proposal: the EU should respond by banning US social media. euobserver.com/eu-and-the-w...

euobserver.comA radical proposal: put the EU's counter-tariffs on US social media appsSocial media is strongly negatively related to mental health, to inefficient time use, weakened family relations, depressing comparisons with others, a weakening of democracy and for less tax revenue....

48 reposts180 likes

Gail Munro 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
@gailmunro.bsky.social

Taxing it, not banning it. If they(& I said the UK should do this before 'we' made a deal) tax social media that is free to (average) users, it can't be passed on, like a goods/ product tax, or even a tax on streaming services which would just put up prices. This is a 'deficit', so make €€€.

OCB1640
@ocb1640.bsky.social

It’s not a new idea, and it’s well known America/Trump are *terrified* of a “digital tax”. The only reason “the tech broligarchs” are so rich is they’ve dodged paying tax anywhere near to the level they should be.

Nick (The Angry Cat)
@ntse.bsky.social

Or Netherlands could tell US they would allow China to purchase whatever they want from ASML, and lift the US imposed restrictions. I bet US would sh*t themselves pretty fast, given all of their great chip tech companies sit on the fact China can't buy the tools to manufacture with the same process.

Nick (The Angry Cat)
@ntse.bsky.social

This is not how it works. ASML holds the patents in US since some if not big part of the R&D is done (by them again) in USA. That doesn't mean USA owns the patents, but that it grants them to ASML where they are registered. And I don't see ASML suing themselves or USA not buying the products.

Akeva
@akevabanshee.bsky.social

If there were good EU alternatives, even a large portion of US users would like to use them, however at this point there are not. However if you want to hurt US Social media sites ban them from running any ads. Otherwise your article is pointless noise with a failed premise.