@Axtremus said in TikTok:
@Aqua-Letifer said in TikTok:
It's far worse than this, folks.
What other “far worse” things about TikTok do you have in mind?
TikTok isn't like Facebook or Instagram. When you download TikTok, you don't need to follow anyone to start being fed content—it requires no personal connection at all, ever. Its algorithm starts with feeding you a kind of video best-of in the For You feed, and starts learning real damn fast what you respond to.
This is very problematic for three reasons.
First, there's no incentive to build any kind of follower base. It's not needed—you can get fed content that'll keep you hooked on the platform, which is how most users interact with the app—without making any personal connections with anyone. It's antisocial media. (Yes, there's a new Friends tab. No, they're not interested in getting more users to check it. It's all about eyeballs on the screen, not cultivating relationships.)
Second, these platforms are designed to make you addicted to the dopamine hit from likes and shares. At least with the older platforms, a viral post often leads to more followers, more conversations, etc., which is sort of social. With TikTok, the follower count isn't the goal, it's the likes and shares from friends, randos, who knows, who cares. All of the social media engagement addiction, none of the social.
Third, there's a massive disparity between what we respond to, and what's good for us. Building relationships, discussing and sharing things in a considered way, and learning new things are all good for us. Content that invokes immediate reactions also makes us feel depressed, angry, envious, or just empty. But the TikTok algorithm isn't coded to discern between these things. All it cares about is establishing a content hierarchy, tailored to you, to keep your eyeballs on the screen for as long as possible. And what keeps you on the platform—invoking an immediate reaction—is generally quite bad for you.
Nevermind the tracking issues, it's highly addictive and generally does a great deal more harm than provide anything worthwhile—especially for kids. It's visual stimulation fentanyl and it's driving people crazy. All social media can lead to this but TikTok is in an entirely different class.
