[systemvoltage]

It is just me or there seems to be a strange lack of criticism about TikTok on the same or stricter level than FB. Especially that it is a Chinese company HQ’ed in Beijing. Neither do I ever see discussion about the asymmetry in China’s trade policies with regards to FB/Tiktok. Tiktok enjoys free market access (except India), whereas FB is banned in China just like many other US-based platforms. On the contrary, there seems to be praise about TikTok on HN!

How come we don’t see scathing articles on NYT about TikTok but on WSJ? Has this become a partisan issue (Trump wanted to ban Tiktok)?

[ethbr0]

The problem with TikTok is that it's even more opaque than Facebook.

Content can be said to exist or not exist on Facebook, and that's usually it. Sure they monkey with the feed, but it's still essentially user-derived.

TikTok effectively exposes one interaction: get next.

What that returns is completely at the mercy of whatever TikTok decides it should be. They've optimized for virality. But it would be pretty easy to tweak that and optimize for something else.

[pessimizer]

Why do I feel like I've read hundreds of comments saying "is there a strange lack of criticism about China?"

We literally almost banned TikTok, and statements were made about the necessity of doing it from the President of the United States. For weeks. Almost resulting in a government mandated forced sale.

[novok]

Don't worry, tik tok is just new. Wait a few more years and they'll be put through a similar rigamarole, although I don't think it will be as severe as FB. Maybe youtube level?

[zwieback]

I think it's because of the perception TikTok=cat and dance videos, FB=misinformation. At least that's what my feeds looks like. Also: TikTok=kids, FB=adults

[systemvoltage]

I use Instagram daily. I love it. And so do my friends. Ads are also very on point and small business oriented. No scams. Instagram has super cool retro computing and countless vaporwave aesthetic channels that frankly are unique to IG. It’s incredible. I have curated my own feed using the save feature. Never used FB but IG seems to be better than Tiktok mentally and otherwise.

[leonidasv]

At least in my bubble, TikTok has plenty of misinformation too, and to me it's as bad as Facebook when it comes to dissemination.

[numpad0]

Could “misinformation” be a misnomer? I think the problem is in the way it’s consumed that is similar to a rhyme or a chant, rather than accuracies of information contained therein.

[whiskyant]

TikTok has plenty of misinformation, Twitter too.

[jamal-kumar]

https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/12/22772157/tiktok-tics-sug...

I think researchers are starting to notice mass psychological phenomenon specific to the platform already, though maybe 'tiktok tics' just sounds nicer than any of the other social media networks and 'tics'

[woodruffw]

I don't use either service, but it's my impression that the misinformation on TikTok is more on the "petty harm to individuals" level and less on the "destroys the social and political fabric of societies" level.

[leonidasv]

There are tons of questionable political propaganda in Tiktok too.

It's not just a kids app anymore, if you start dismissing content aimed at teenagers, you quickly get into a bubble of content made for more mature audiences: daddy jokes, bloopers, political content and more. It's surprising the number of creators above 20, 30 and more years old there.

In my country, there are even congressmen and runner-ups that post content there daily.

Anyway, the problem with it, in my opinion, is how content is promoted in the app. The next video is just a swipe away (and every time an user swipes too early, you loose "points"). It encourages sensationalist and alarmist content, the creator must keep the audience engajed without swiping it, so the more chocking, the best - just like any other social media platform nowadays. And that's where the fabric of society starts ripping.

[outside1234]

Agreed - we should symmetrically apply their laws in the US as well and require that they be locally owned.

Or just block them. Maybe that would be better.

[queuebert]

I agree that TikTok is much worse, but thankfully I rarely hear about it and don't personally know anyone who uses it.

[queuebert]

LOL at the downvotes. Seems like a lot of comments critical of TikTok are being downvoted in this thread. I wonder if they are hiring vote farms to manage their reputation online.