I think the problem is that people aren’t hooked to the short video format of TikTok, which there are already many alternatives for, but they are hooked to the algorithm that feeds them endless personalized content with simple guidance (show me more/less like this).
It’s possible to create curated and algorithm-like feeds on Bluesky, but they don’t allow for easy personalization in the same way.
The thing about the TikTok algorithm seems to be that there are a lot less… fingers in the pudding so to speak, it doesn’t seem to have much preference on what kinds of content users get steered to, responding more actively to what they actually show interest in.
Other systems seem to have strong preferences about what topic and styles they steer users too or away from. Distorting what content users are steered towards tends to flood their feeds with things they’re not super interested in, because what they actually showed interest in is not promoted by the system, or even actively demoted.
I can understand the convenience of these algorithms, but they always have the same subtly undermining goal: to make people addicted. The fact that TikTok’s algorithm is so good at this is worrying to me even if it doesn’t have an overt bias. It’s also why I think people are having such crazy reactions to the pending ban, even the thought of withdrawal is too much.
I think its appeal mainly comes from the fact that it’s not overtly biased. Other algorithms could achieve the same if it wasn’t for the fact that they’re so heavy handed in what they allow the feed to promote.
It’s also why I think people are having such crazy reactions to the pending ban, even the thought of withdrawal is too much.
I feel like this is a pretty shitty over simplification. People are mad about the censorship aspect and see it as yet another step towards authoritarianism (or deeper into it, not trying to split hairs about the current state of the US government).
i donno, tiktok is good for maybe one or two videos before it devolves into doomscrolling. it has the same shortcomings as any other engagement-baitgorithms. even my wife complains that they won’t miss tiktok for how boring it gets.
I think the problem is that people aren’t hooked to the short video format of TikTok, which there are already many alternatives for, but they are hooked to the algorithm that feeds them endless personalized content with simple guidance (show me more/less like this).
It’s possible to create curated and algorithm-like feeds on Bluesky, but they don’t allow for easy personalization in the same way.
The thing about the TikTok algorithm seems to be that there are a lot less… fingers in the pudding so to speak, it doesn’t seem to have much preference on what kinds of content users get steered to, responding more actively to what they actually show interest in.
Other systems seem to have strong preferences about what topic and styles they steer users too or away from. Distorting what content users are steered towards tends to flood their feeds with things they’re not super interested in, because what they actually showed interest in is not promoted by the system, or even actively demoted.
I can understand the convenience of these algorithms, but they always have the same subtly undermining goal: to make people addicted. The fact that TikTok’s algorithm is so good at this is worrying to me even if it doesn’t have an overt bias. It’s also why I think people are having such crazy reactions to the pending ban, even the thought of withdrawal is too much.
I think its appeal mainly comes from the fact that it’s not overtly biased. Other algorithms could achieve the same if it wasn’t for the fact that they’re so heavy handed in what they allow the feed to promote.
I feel like this is a pretty shitty over simplification. People are mad about the censorship aspect and see it as yet another step towards authoritarianism (or deeper into it, not trying to split hairs about the current state of the US government).
i donno, tiktok is good for maybe one or two videos before it devolves into doomscrolling. it has the same shortcomings as any other engagement-baitgorithms. even my wife complains that they won’t miss tiktok for how boring it gets.