[boriskourt]

TikTok has ~1.59 billion global active users, if you go to Cambodia you will have a hard time not seeing it in the wild. It is painful that this is still seen as some teen trend.

People enjoy short form video, people should be able to enjoy things they like with dignity, which is in extremely short supply on algorithm and advert driven social media.

Loops is nice because it isn't algorithm oriented. You can follow folks and just see their things if you like, or see whats on the instance.

Loops doesn't need to 'slay tiktok' Loops just needs to grow organically and support the niches that feel like using it, and it can take the time to do that at any pace. Its success is not determined by user numbers or series rounds.

I don't like to produce short form video, but its been nice to now follow a few people on Loops from Mastodon. Its nice that the Fediverse allows multiple forms of expression.

[wiseowise]

> People enjoy short form video, people should be able to enjoy things they like with dignity, which is in extremely short supply on algorithm and advert driven social media.

People “enjoy” heroin, crack cocaine, fentanyl too, should they “enjoy” them with dignity too?

[latexr]

Yes, of course. That’s what Portugal’s drug policy did. By allowing a path for doing hard drugs safely and with dignity, you also allow a path for conversation, getting help, and leaving them behind.

[andai]

So the argument here is like a harm reduction argument, as in the decriminalization/legalization of hard drugs?

That seems a little uncharitable, though it does get me wondering... Imagine if benevolent hackers took over The Algorithm. What might they achieve?

They could promote high quality educational content, as is done in certain other nations.

They could utilize the companies' infinite knowledge of Skinner box mechanics to discourage and even break screen addiction, rather than cultivate it.

The possibilities are endless.

Any volunteers? ;)

[boriskourt]

yes, a lot of the issues around this come because of the lack of dignity.

[lynx97]

> heroin ... with dignity

That discussion is already over since, what... 20 years? Heroin addicts get their fix from the state, with tax payer money, in many many countries these days. I can see the line waiting in front of my pharmacy every day in the morning...

[blablablerg]

Yes.

[balamatom]

I love love love how you deny people both their enjoyment and their dignity. You are a truly moral person; I hope you have numerous progeny.

[framapotari]

Would you prefer that they do it without dignity?

[gverrilla]

Yes.

[lynx97]

It is seen as some teen trend because... brankly... most users are rather infantil.