TikTok Newsletter 64
Real science. Now in real time.
Hello.
This is Understanding TikTok – your weekly TikTok ⏳ update. My name is Marcus. I am a bit late with #64. Sorry. Did a TikTok workshop with Greenpeace Germany (@greenpeace.de), presented some ideas on TikTok as a digital stage (yet another Twitter thread) at the University of Cologne. And here is a video of my little ClimateTok presentation (german) for Netzwerk Klimajournalismus.
This week we talk about:
🧠 TikTok is not really reading your mind
🕳️ Year-End Lists
🚎 New features
🛏️ Reading List
🧠 TikTok is not really reading your mind
TikTok’s much-vaunted video algorithm is designed around two things: getting users to stick around and getting users to come back. That’s according to a report in The New York Times, which reviewed a leaked copy of an internal TikTok document summarizing how the system works. (The Verge) Surprise. Surprise.
The NYT-article is a good read. I fast forward you to this section: “Julian McAuley, a professor of computer science at the University of California San Diego, who also reviewed the document, said in an email that the paper was short on detail about how exactly TikTok does its predictions, but that the description of its recommendation engine is ‘totally reasonable, but traditional stuff.’ 🤷
The company’s edge, he said, comes from combining machine learning with ‘fantastic volumes of data, highly engaged users, and a setting where users are amenable to consuming algorithmically recommended content (think how few other settings have all of these characteristics!). 🔮 Not some algorithmic magic.’ Mr. McAuley added that he was a bit perplexed about why people were always asking him about TikTok.”
Mr McAuley is streaming himself on Twitch playing Bach in a garage next to an impressive set of dumbbells on his website. And i think that is beautiful.
🕳️ Year-End Lists
No worries. I will not drop my Spotify Wrapped list here. But if you are into year-end lists and feel nostalgic or want to bring order into all the disorder. Well, here is a Year on TikTok: 2021-of-a-kind list of lists by TikTok, including joy, playlists (1. Popp Hunna: “Adderall (Corvette Corvette) 2. LPB Poody: “Batman” 3. Kayla Nicole feat. Taylor Girlz: “Bundles”), breakthrough stars, voices of change. And food. Here is the US list: Tortilla Trend Feta Pasta Natures Cereal Pasta Chips Salmon Rice Bowl.
You want even more food, right. Here are the 7 TikTok recipes of 2021 that actually deserved the hype (Mashable). Mashable made yet another list: 10 people we couldn't stop watching on TikTok in 2021. Guess who is on top? And here are Top 10 most viewed TikTok videos in the UK for 2021 (indy100).
🚎 New Features
TikTok has unveiled a series of new tools that will enable artists and creators to monetise their content moving forward (NME). ‘Creator Next’ is a new toolset that features the platform’s first tipping function, allowing artists to receive tips directly from followers while keeping the entire amount of money sent to them.
Pretty straight forward: More engagement, more time spent, more content produced, more creators, more fans, more diamonds. 💎Quote: One way for you to use Diamonds is to request to redeem your Diamonds for money from TikTok. You can see Diamonds’ potential monetary value in your TikTok account balance.
TikTok is relaunching Q&A with even more options. This time the company has also added an option to invite other people to answer your questions. (9to5mac)
TikTok is also developing another feature called “Ask on TikTok,” which, as the name suggests, is an open community for asking questions on the social network. There’s a list of all the questions submitted by users, and each one shows the answers to that question in videos. And here is a short Twitter thread on the TikTok Creative Center. Just in case.
🛏️ Reading List
💣 ‘This Your Girlfriend?’: Videos Shaming Women for Sex Jokes Go Viral on TikTok (Vice)
🏥 It’s time to study the health impacts of TikTok, researchers say (The Verge). Reports of teens developing tic-like behaviors after watching TikTok videos highlight something most of us don’t consider about mental health: symptoms can be social. (The Verge)
🕍 Antisemitism in the Digital Age. TikTok is a platform where the young audience gets in touch with antisemitism in videos, music, filters, hashtags and emoji combinations. The antisemitism is often subtle, but the mobilisation works. (Belltower.News)
🛋️ A new class of creators is using OSINT techniques to solve online mysteries (The Verge). But please use your brain before applying OSINT techniques, okay? You remember Couch guy? Couch Guy and the nightmare of going viral (Vox). Here is a piece by Couch guy himself: I’m the TikTok Couch Guy. Here’s What It Was Like Being Investigated on the Internet (Slate)
🍱 Organisation TikTok – a world where ordinary people rack up millions of views simply by organising their fridge or colour-coding their wardrobe (Refinery29)
👘 TikTok Thinks 2010s Style Is Coming Back (Vogue) – asymmetric skirts, striped shirts, and feathered hair extensions—a favorite of 2010s stars like Ke$ha—will come back, too.
🧭 Me and my bestie. Kim Kardashian & North West Launch Mother-Daughter TikTok Account (toofab). @kimandnorth
🍥 Internet Awesomesauce. Melina Bee has made dozens of videos explaining similarly niche graphic design and architectural aesthetics (Vox)
Ciao, Marcus
