[hellomyguys]

Generally true, but not entirely accurate...

"TikTok’s Secret ‘Heating’ Button Can Make Anyone Go Viral" https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilybaker-white/2023/01/20/tik...

They also don't just optimize for consumption, but also for new users. Don't have concrete proof, but it seems they help new users get more views to give them that taste of "15 minutes of fame" as early as possible.

[vuln]

Yeah I tend to agree regarding the 15 minutes of fame for new users. It's doesn't even need to go insanely viral.

How many people have created and published videos on YouTube and got maybe a few tens or a couple hundred views over years.

TikTok new users gets a couple THOUSAND views and the user is like "people like my content I MUST make more!!" And now they're hooked trying to get the same high view count as before.

I would assume (as I have never used the platform) it's also a way for TikTok to grab you financial information "you earned x$ from you first video, please supply you financial information and a scan of your ID for payment.

It's an addiction.

[delecti]

You assumption is likely incorrect. It takes a fair bit of success to get into the partner program, and you get no money until then.

I agree that it's likely intended to give new users that hit though.

[vuln]

I don't know much about the partner program but if I change the wording to this:

"You _could have_ earned x$ from your first video. Good job! You're on your way to the Partner Program please supply your financial information and a scan of your ID for future payment."

[pavitheran]

Tiktok does not ask for financial information after your first video.

[vuln]

Since you seem to have experience. Did you notice 15 minutes of fame on your first uploaded video? How many views did your first video get? What was the topic and soundtrack of your first video? I'd love to dig a little deeper.

[kurthr]

The first taste of gamified on-line adulation and serotonin is free!

[andirk]

Similarly, the various dating apps I have used clearly front-loaded the matches with the objectively attractive women in the area. This has been especially hilarious to me as a female friend will often start the process for me (search store, download, sign up, start searching) and more than once they have gotten this skewed version of what's out there, thinking that every nearby woman looks like a movie star.

[waboremo]

You don't have to look that far for proof, there are plenty of people who made videos complaining about how they don't get good views anymore, they aren't pushed out anymore. Search "why isn't my tiktok account being pushed anymore" and you'll find similar outcry on various forums. You see it by scrolling through their profile enough, they go from 300k views and 50k likes to 1k views and 100 likes. Massive drops, where they haven't reached "self-sustaining" status yet like a Selena Gomez account.

Also as another potential source of proof, tiktok is really effective at pushing alt pages to people's FYP. Which is interesting because their old account will stagnate, but their alts will get pushed quite aggressively despite the content being very similar. So obviously it's not a content issue, tiktok is evaluating them equally and thinking you'll like it, but their old account(s) don't show up as much anymore.

Tiktok isn't as overtly aggressive with this method though, it seems like there's a cooldown period of sorts where it might start pushing you out again if you remain committed to the platform. Still, it's severe enough for people to make note of it and feel seriously demoralized by it.

[jackson1442]

I think a key part of their new user optimization is putting very little weight on your previous performance. So if you make a great video as a user with 0 followers, you still have similar odds to a 10M follower user to making it big on the FYP.

There might, of course, still be additional new-user weight. But I think this is at least a part of it.

[rightbyte]

Ye I mean there is a limit on how much you can manipulate before the feed gets crappy. A small amount you won't notice at all.

Surely the temptation to do some for profit is too big.

It would not surprise me if TikTok goes the same way as Facebook on this when they get comfy, to milk som short term dollars.

[lrvick]

Casinos use similar tactics.

Why do we let kids use this again?

[rootusrootus]

> Why do we let kids use this again?

I don't, no matter how much they ask. The most I've acquiesced to is a small amount of YouTube time per day. It gets harder the older they get. My daughter can now just use her school laptop (while at school, at least) to watch as much YouTube as she can find time for. I'm not real happy about it, but part of raising kids is learning to accept the steady transfer of their autonomy over to them. I just keep gently harping on how low quality this kind of content is, what the motivations behind it are, etc.

[andrepd]

There's dogshit content on YouTube (Mr Beast, moronic reaction and gaming videos, alt-right propaganda), but there's also more interesting content than you can watch in several lifetimes (documentaries, speeches and lectures, recorded courses from top universities on everything from physics to music, etc).

It's about curating this yourself for your child (as opposed to giving them unrestricted access), and then slowly giving them control and hope they have good taste :)

[rd]

It’s funny you lump in MrBeast with the other two. I’ll admit his content is 0 value, but in terms of entertainment, it’s far higher than anything else on the platform. I’d be far more upset at my kids for watching a reaction YouTuber or any influencer, than I would mrbeast.

[tkanarsky]

He's a downright clever guy who knows exactly what he's doing to maximize entertainment value, and, by proxy, clicks and therefore revenue. He was on the Lex Fridman podcast a few weeks back, pretty good listening.

[andrepd]

I absolutely detest those videos, and I have to say I don't understand the appeal at all. It's a combination of of unhinged consumerism and that uncanny fake excitement which is extremely off-putting to me.

[dangwhy]

> Why do we let kids use this again?

Same reason we eat junk food. Its easy!

[dragonelite]

Why are parents slacking in their role as parents.