[coolbreezetft22]

Maybe I'm ignorant of what TikTok is but it seems to be mostly about video sharing and less about "social networking" with friends and family??

I also think TikTok has serious risks going forward re Chinese government. Already a lot of grumbling from lawmakers in US about banning it as CCP growing more belligerent in recent years whereas Facebook products aren't at all influenced by it.

[chrischen]

Tiktok is short addictive videos from randos.

Youtube is long addictive videos.

Instagram and facebook is still primarily focused on content from people you know, though they are also trying to copy some of TikTok’s randos content via the Reels feature.

At the end of the day they just want to get attention by giving content, whether using friends or essentially crowdsourcing.

I prefer Netflix, because I’m paying them and they are not just manipulating me to show ads.

[slowmovintarget]

This reminds me of a related article discussed earlier: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32482523

The Three Trends:

1. Medium: text -> images -> video -> 3D graphics -> VR

2. AI: time -> rank -> recommend -> generate

3. UI: click -> scroll -> tap -> swipe -> autoplay

TikTok is at the video/recommend/swipe stage.

[fxtentacle]

Autoplaying VR porn generated on-demand to perfectly match each visitor's preferences.

Yeah, that sounds like it would become popular very quickly.

[api]

The trend in social media for years has been away from social and toward just addictive content and finding the best way to crowdsource that content. The purpose is becoming simply to get you to spend as much time as possible staring at the phone to sell ads, and nothing more.

I predict the next advancement will be pure AI generated content, just a continuous adversarial attack on the human brain programmed to maximize viewing time for each individual. This could be packaged as things like virtual friends (Replika) or games with constantly evolving game play punctuated with ads or even as something that looks like TikTok.

Pure refined 200 proof addictive emptiness is the logical apex of “free” mass media. We will look back on TV and early generation social media as high culture compared to what’s coming.

[jmcgough]

I think we're seeing a pendulum swing in some ways. The migration to Mastodon has been really exciting because servers are funded through Patreon, not eyeballs. Communities are smaller and content is higher quality, without pressuring you to post content you think will get the most likes. It's like an actual social media platform, not what so many others have become.

[chrischen]

Facebook was never really about social. They just stumbled upon the realization that commenting on friends’ stuffs and looking at some of it was addicting. That’s why there was backlash against it because people realized Facebook wasn’t really working to help us improve our social relationships in any way but merely using it to steal our attention, much to our detriment (waste time).

Eventually AI was developed to automate addictive content which is just a more generalized solution yo what FB was doing.

[DoingIsLearning]

> I prefer Netflix, because I’m paying them and they are not just manipulating me to show ads

Sorry to break it to you but Netflix is absolutely manipulating their audience in trying to convince everyone to watch Netflix productions.

When Netflix came into the market they had a unique platform and were burning money to get good content in. Now studios realized there is money in streaming and are squeezing Netflix prices.

Making their own productions means it is all vertical for them, less risk and more profitable.

By the end of it you're stuck watching something, just not exactly what you wanted in the first place.

[chrischen]

I don’t understand. What I see on Netflix I either want to watch or not. What does it matter if it is a Netflix production or not? My point is more that I’d rather watch more long form thoughtfully crafted content than short dopamine hits designed to hook me for the purpose of showing ads in between.

[jsemrau]

In my eyes, TikTok is a social entertainment app where simple user-generated content is created with the purpose to provide enjoyment. It's not focused on the needs of other users, but entirely about one's own needs. Hence, I call this new version of social Eigensocial.

[kodisha]

I think it's safe to assume that it's purpose is to gather data.

[jsemrau]

Valid point. Also always reminds be of the people on the Axiom in Wall-E. Consume until you are consumed.