TikTok: under the hood of its recommendation algorithm


If you’re used to scrolling endlessly on the “For You” tab on TikTok, you’ve probably come across a video that made you wonder, “What am I watching that this weird video appears on my page”?

Good news, TikTok has just announced a new feature that will now allow you to find the answer to this question.

How do I know why a video was recommended to me?

TikTok announced the new feature in a blog post. To be able to use it, simply click on the video sharing tab of the “For you” tab in question, then select the “why this video” option.

The reasons why the algorithm recommended the video then appear: it could be a popular video in your area, for example, or you follow the creator of the video. It could also be that the algorithm thinks this video is similar to videos you like.

years of ignorance

For TikTok, allowing users to understand why specific videos are on their personal page constitutes an effort of “meaningful transparency” between users and the platform. This objective of transparency follows years of ignorance by users of the operation of the algorithm of the social network.

In 2020, TikTok explained that the bases of its algorithm lie in the way users interact with videos on the “For you” tab. On the social network, the videos in the “For you” tab are there so that the algorithm can learn what content you want to see.

If you have just created your TikTok account, the “For you” tab first offers you to view popular videos, generally posted by verified creators with millions of followers. Then the algorithm learns your preferences – when you watch the videos in full, when you like and comment on videos, and also when you decide to follow creators – then allowing it to show you videos similar to the ones you have. already appreciated.

By interacting with the videos, you are telling the algorithm what you like. Conversely, skipping or clicking “Not Interested” on other videos tells the algorithm what you’d rather not see.

An algorithm that knows too much?

Since the app’s popularity skyrocketed in 2020, users have taken to other social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit in an attempt to figure out TikTok’s all-knowing algorithm.

TikTok collects data about users through their IP address, device, what they say in TikTok direct messages, how they interact with ads, and biometric technology to store facial and voice patterns.

TikTok’s algorithm is a sophisticated example of a commonly used algorithm, which seems to know more about people than they know about themselves. So if you’ve ever thought while looking at the “For You” tab that TikTok knows all about you…you were probably right.

Source: ZDNet.com





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