TikTok really?

  • NabiscoShredderWheat@lemmy.antemeridiem.xyz
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    1 year ago

    I know it’s “cool” to hate on TikTok, but honestly it can be a very good tool as well as fun. I follow a bunch of news, baking, social posters and feel like I get a lot of info without much bias (there is always bias). The people that complain have only themselves to blame. The algorithm is so good you only really see what you want to see. So they’re really just calling themselves out. They’re watching exactly what they bitch about.

    • jay@beehaw.org
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      1 year ago

      100% the algorithm is next level, tiktok is something that removed the sting of reddit’s demise for me. I am meticulous with liking and following content as well as saying not interested on anything that I don’t like. I think for a lot of haters of Tiktok they’d be shocked to see my feed composed of DND stories, science channels, history channels, cooking, hobbyists, and workout content. Tiktok is a super diverse place if you know how to interact.

    • darkmugglet@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Your position is a techno-elitist. Saying that people should be aware of the biases in an algorithm (that they can’t review and is subject to arbitrary change). People shouldn’t have to work to find unbiased and high quality content. Hell, I did a deep dive the other weekend on the moon and my YouTube feed is filled with flat earther videos.

      I am not saying that some people want the content, just that the algo selects for the controversy. It takes work to avoid that. Again, my YouTube feed has the world ending tomorrow because I watched a few moon videos.

      And for the record, I tried really hard to find reputable sources and non-aliens-created-the-pyramids content.

    • SkyeStarfall@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      1 year ago

      The problem is always, how do you know when you aren’t fed the wrong thing? The algorithm is a black box. What if one day they they subtly altered it to favour specific viewpoints or similar? Or to hide some other event, or viewpoint, or whatever?

      This applies to all media, of course, but I think it’s especially vulnerable when it comes to a social media algorithm like this.

    • Noonecanknowitsme@beehaw.org
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      1 year ago

      Yes exactly! I follow (and stumble upon) some wonderful people who are sharing their knowledge, experiences, etc. it’s another great source of community and education