4 ms·

> A decent amount of TikTok "videos" are just computer generated voices reading screenshots of funny tweets and reddit comments. Not for me, I get exactly zero

> A decent amount of TikTok "videos" are just computer generated voices reading screenshots of funny tweets and reddit comments. Not for me, I get exactly zero videos like that. I always chuckle when I read someone say "Most videos on TikTok ..." since they seem totally oblivious to the fact that there isn't a single TikTok experience. You get what you get and I get what I get. It reminds me of an older guy I know who stated in front of a bunch of young men "All of the videos on TikTok are scantily clad 13 year old girls doing dirty dances". It was second-hand cringe embarrassing. I think baby boomers, gen-x and a decent portion of millennials still think of social media as being broadly targeted like TV stations used to be. Even YouTube doesn't come close to the insane customization of TikTok.

rchaud 3y ago
Ever heard of first impressions? Not everybody is going to spend time tweaking some invisible algorithm. If it doesn't show them what they're looking for, why should they stick around? It's not like people sign up to Tiktok to keep in touch with friends. Somebody new to YouTube is going to think there's nothing on it besides Mr Beast, iPhone reviews and culture war nonsense, because that's what the front page shows to a signed out user. I imagine Tiktok is similar.
- zoogeny 3y ago
  > Not everybody is going to spend time tweaking some invisible algorithm Well, there are exactly two options with TikTok. Either you use the app or you don't. If you don't use the app then you probably shouldn't be making definitive statements about what content is on the platform. If you do use the app then it will quickly (I mean within less than 1 hour of use) customize itself to your preferences. There is no "tweaking". Just by interacting with the app (swiping up on videos, viewing comments, allowing videos to replay, etc.) So if you have been on TikTok for roughly 1 hour or more then you are getting a significantly customized experience that almost no one else on the platform is going to get. That isn't true on YouTube or really any other kind of media experience that existed prior to it. That is why older internet users can't really reason about it effectively and tend to make statements that sound out-of-touch to younger users.
  - rchaud 3y ago
    > If you don't use the app then you probably shouldn't be making definitive statements about what content is on the platform. One can use the app for any amount of time, and make any comment they wish. If there's a critical mass of people making the same criticisms of the app, maybe the explanation isn't "you're using it wrong".
RandallBrown 3y ago
Does it matter if it's not for you if it is for other people? It's like saying "There's no video game videos in my feed so why would TikTok make a feature related to gaming?"

rchaud 3y ago

Ever heard of first impressions? Not everybody is going to spend time tweaking some invisible algorithm. If it doesn't show them what they're looking for, why should they stick around? It's not like people sign up to Tiktok to keep in touch with friends. Somebody new to YouTube is going to think there's nothing on it besides Mr Beast, iPhone reviews and culture war nonsense, because that's what the front page shows to a signed out user. I imagine Tiktok is similar.

zoogeny 3y ago
> Not everybody is going to spend time tweaking some invisible algorithm Well, there are exactly two options with TikTok. Either you use the app or you don't. If you don't use the app then you probably shouldn't be making definitive statements about what content is on the platform. If you do use the app then it will quickly (I mean within less than 1 hour of use) customize itself to your preferences. There is no "tweaking". Just by interacting with the app (swiping up on videos, viewing comments, allowing videos to replay, etc.) So if you have been on TikTok for roughly 1 hour or more then you are getting a significantly customized experience that almost no one else on the platform is going to get. That isn't true on YouTube or really any other kind of media experience that existed prior to it. That is why older internet users can't really reason about it effectively and tend to make statements that sound out-of-touch to younger users.
- rchaud 3y ago
  > If you don't use the app then you probably shouldn't be making definitive statements about what content is on the platform. One can use the app for any amount of time, and make any comment they wish. If there's a critical mass of people making the same criticisms of the app, maybe the explanation isn't "you're using it wrong".

RandallBrown 3y ago

Does it matter if it's not for you if it is for other people? It's like saying "There's no video game videos in my feed so why would TikTok make a feature related to gaming?"