Why Osama bin Laden Went Viral On TikTok

Written By Guest User

Weeks into Israel-Hamas war, disinformation continues to spread online

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up!

 
 

Hey ya! Hey ya! 🎶 

André 3000, best known as one-half of rap group Outkast, released “New Blue Sun.” His first album in 17 years is out today, Nov. 17.

In a plot twist, his first solo album won’t have any rap and is instead entirely instrumental.

A good reminder that it’s never too late to change things up. Enjoy your weekend!

Mosheh, Jill, & Lauren

🗞 OSAMA BIN LADEN GOES VIRAL 20+ YEARS LATER

 
 

About two decades ago, 3,000+ people were killed on 9/11. A year later, the man behind the attack, al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, wrote a “Letter to Americans” trying to justify the attacks. Somehow, in 2023, some Gen-Zers on TikTok have discovered the letter, and it is leading them to express sympathy for bin Laden. (See video montage)

WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?
The U.S. is polarized on its views of Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Misinformation and content bubbles on TikTok are only growing that divide. While many of the TikTok videos

Back in 2002, Bin Laden wrote a letter to Americans listing grievances against America—including Western military involvement in Muslim countries. His criticisms on America’s support of Israel and its policies in the Palestinian territories are taking off online 20+ years later.

  • Quoted by many on TikTok is the line: "The creation and continuation of Israel is one of the greatest crimes, and you are the leaders of its criminals. And of course there is no need to explain and prove the degree of American support for Israel."

  • "The blood pouring out of Palestine must be equally revenged," the terror leader wrote in the letter that also pushes a number of antisemitic lines about “the Jews,” including that they "control your policies, media and economy."

Bin Laden also confirms and justifies the 9/11 attacks, calls for acts of genocide against the West, and pushes for Islamic Shariah law worldwide. Again, it is classic jihadist propaganda.

  • He justified the killing of civilians, referencing reports of American and other western government-sponsored violence against Muslims in the Palestinian territories, Somalia, Chechnya, Kashmir and Lebanon, and economic sanctions in Iraq that left people hungry.

    • Notably, Bin Laden never did anything for Palestine, despite often using the issue in his speeches and writings. He saw them as a popular cause to stir up public opinion.

As for his demands to end the war:

  • The first thing he’s calling for is everyone to convert to Islam.

  • The second thing is to reject oppression, lies, immorality— things like “fornication, homosexuality, intoxicants, gambling and trading with interest.”

    • Bin Laden called on the US to give up the separation of church and state, adopt sharia law, rethink women’s equality, ban homosexuality, alcohol, drugs and end the use of interest rates when it comes to banking and markets, among other declarations.

🧠 A reminder that bin Laden would often put out videos and letters, long rants about the need for the world to convert to Islam and accept Sharia law; No Christians, Jews, Hindus etc.

SO. MANY. VIEWS.
“So I just read ‘A Letter to America’ and I will never look at life the same, I will never look at this country the same,” a TikTok video with 1.2 million views in less than 24 hours said.

  • Another video with 900,000+ views claimed “everything we learned about the Middle East, 9/11, and ‘terrorism’ was a lie.”

  • Reports have said that the text doesn’t appear to have been pushed from extremist sources but rather spread organically and enjoying “an uncritical resonance.”

TIKTOK RESPONDS
TikTok says only a small number of people have been sharing videos condoning bin Laden, but according to CNN, videos shared with the hashtag #lettertoamerica had over 14 million views. By Thursday afternoon, the phrase could not be searched on the app due to guideline violations.

However, related videos were still widely accessible when we poked around. What the app says:

⏰ BOTTOM LINE: Taking issue with American foreign policy is one thing, but agreeing with a genocidal murderer is another. Some members of Gen Z feel they haven’t gotten the full story of American history and want to draw their own conclusions. At the same time, some are so hyper-focused on apparent hypocrisy and opposing perceived colonialism and oppressors, it appears they have lost the ability to think critically. And then there is the Tiktok algorithm—which will only come under more scrutiny as American lawmakers raise concerns about how China can use the app to foment unrest in the US.

 

⏳ SPEED READ

 
 

🚨NATION

📌 David DePape found guilty in federal trial over Paul Pelosi hammer attack (ABC NEWS)

📌 Rep. George Santos won't seek re-election following scathing House Ethics report (NBC NEWS)

📌 Judge in Trump's Georgia election interference case orders 'sensitive' evidence withheld from public (FOX NEWS)

📌 Arrest made after death of Jewish protester in California after confrontation over Israel-Hamas war (CNN)

🌎 AROUND THE WORLD

📌 Spain's Pedro Sánchez wins new term as PM after amnesty deal (BBC)

📌 Body of Israeli hostage found near Al-Shifa hospital, IDF says (CNN)

📌 India turns to artificial rain to ease pollution concerns (SCMP)

📌 Israeli military strikes underground bunker where Hamas leadershi allegedly hides (TIMES OF ISRAEL)

📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH

📌 New York lawsuit blames PepsiCo for plastic litter – not people (CNN)

📌 Walking has plummeted across America (AXIOS)

📌 The world’s first gene therapy for sickle cell disease has been approved in Britain (AP)

📌 GM union workers ratify UAW deal following contentious vote (CNBC)

🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

📌 Sean 'Diddy' Combs accused of rape and abuse by former romantic partner Cassie (NBC NEWS)

📌 Snoop Dogg announces he’s giving up weed (TMZ)

📌 Charissa Thompson says she would occasionally make up comments from coaches during NFL sideline reports (PEOPLE)

📌 Jury finds Kaitlin Armstrong guilty of the 2022 murder of elite cyclist Anna Moriah ‘Mo’ Wilson (CNN)

🗓 CHEERS TO THE FREAKIN WKND  

Guest User
Previous

Tech Shocker: Sam Altman Out At OpenAI, Hired By Microsoft

Next

US & China Cool Tensions At Summit