[debit-freak]

Is there any materially demonstrable evidence that tiktok is worse than other social media networks?

[windowsrookie]

TikTok is a never-ending feed of algorithm optimized short videos designed to perpetually give you a dopamine rush.

In my opinion it is absolutely bad for most people's mental health.

Essentially all other social media platforms have now copied TikTok and do the same.

I still refuse to use TikTok and I never YouTube shorts.

[akomtu]

Imo, tiktoks and facebooks work by destabilizing emotions: they take users on a wild ride thru disgusting and pleasant emotions in an unpredictable manner. This unpredictability of the ride turns off the mind: the user learns that engaging the mind makes no difference and turns it off, leaving more room for the raw emotions. It's not a stretch to say that algorithmic media feed works by muting the human in the users and engaging the animal in them.

[timst4]

The fact that Tiktok wholesale bought the user base for musical.ly, largely preteen children, and converted them to an entirely different app meant to addict them and harvest their data seems pretty unconscionable.

[xtiansimon]

Can’t answer your question directly, but I found this 2022 episode of a16z podcast insightful about the niche/innovations of the product: Tiktok’s Algorithm and Creativity Network Effects Eugene Wei and Sonal Chokshi

Add sexy content, and you have formula for addiction. Heck, I’m struggling with fly fishing shorts and tv show clips on Instagram and YouTube. 30-60 minutes 3-4 times per week. Meanwhile my Stackoverflow, EDx, and smart people podcast consumption has gone to zero. I feel like a nerd bum.

https://a16z.com/podcast/tiktoks-algorithm-and-creativity-ne...

[foolfoolz]

it’s just the most popular. they are all the same. it’s less about the technology and more about why so many humans feel the need to spend so much time using it

[yapyap]

No, well at least not anymore since they have all implemented the infinite scrolling portrait mode feed; YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, Spotify, Netflix

I’m not sure about Twitter

[Fire-Dragon-DoL]

What's "social" about Netflix?

I agree that their UI is terrible, but it doesn't fit in the list

[pragmomm]

Former TikTok exec: Chinese Communist Party had “God mode” entry to US data https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2023/06/former-tiktok...

Two academic studies argue that TikTok favors Chinese government views, and a new analysis says TikTok's parent firm is entangled with government propaganda organs. https://www.nbcnews.com/investigations/tiktok-says-not-sprea...

[mistermann]

"evidence is worse than". Excellent start on one side of the story though.

[kristopolous]

I'd imagine teens with smartphones making poor decisions is perennial and any UGC site needs to have a strategy for dealing with it.

Strangely, you'll find many people, specifically on HN that want to attribute a separate maniacal agency to tiktok as if it's some cold war brainwave voodoo project sabotaging America. As if twitter, reddit, tumblr, youtube and instagram don't have similar problems.

[safety1st]

Yours is really the worst type of post that anyone can make here. Just because it's an election year doesn't mean we have to turn every damned topic into a red/blue culture war dripping with hostile political rhetoric. Embrace the better part of your nature or take it out of here and back to Reddit please.