How TikTok Knows You Better Than You Do with Jen Campbell and Jason Kapadia - Episode 30
TikTok might understand your own identity before you do.
There’s a lot of incredibly smart algorithms and an immense truckload of data behind each one of us on the platform. Should this be cause for concern from a platform that’s replacing search engines and news sites?
We dive into the opportunities and concerns with the platform on Disconnected, as well as how the anti-vax conversation has been driven to using secret emoji codes, whether Netflix is sacrificing binge watching to keep the platform alive, and more.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
TikTok’s scarily impressive algorithm
Whether TikTok is set to replace search engines and news sources
The hidden translations of seemingly-innocent emojis
Netflix’s complex relationship with binge watching
Incredible mental health activism work by the likes of @talktococo
Episode Highlights:
“This is an elongation of the conversation around free speech, fake news and censorship on social media. It's nothing new that people will find ways to talk about things in code to get around algorithms, so it doesn't surprise me.” - 5:20 - Jen Campbell
“It's a sad state of affairs we're at, where you can't even discuss things like the vaccine without being censored. I'm not saying that we shouldn't be vaccinated, but having to use this other method of communicating your message just shows that humans will bypass whatever blockers that you have.” - 11:25 - Jason Kapadia
“It's not just a concern around the number of hours that have been spent on TikTok compared to other social platforms, it's becoming a wider thing. Now, people are using it as their preferred search engine. So rather than go to Google, people are searching on TikTok and finding what they want on there.” - 16:45 - Jag Sharma
“Are you getting deep news, or are you just getting news headlines? I'm sceptical of it. I can see how it’s more widely used as a search engine, but I think for news specifically, the data for me seems very odd.” - 21:25 - Jen Campbell
“They've done a much better job of giving you content subconsciously vs Meta’s platforms, where you know exactly why you're being shown it and you just get annoyed by it. They probably do know us better. There's probably a lot of data behind each one of us that we don't even realise.” - 28:10 - Jen Campbell
“It seems that Netflix is synonymous with binge watching. Are they keen on losing their identity? Is Netflix doing what it has to do to thrive, or does it seem like we're going back to days past?” - 30:45 - Jason Kapadia
“Surely, the whole reason streaming was set up was because it showed that people didn't want to wait a whole week for each episode, or that people were dropping off watching halfway through a series. I think they need to go back to what the users want.” - 33:50 - Jen Campbell
“For me, @talktococo is a real true story of what influencers should be. I think we need more people like that in the world, and less people peddling crap that they don't need to be peddling.” - 38:00 - Jen Campbell
Links & references:
Emoji's being used in Facebook groups to hide anti-vax conversations
https://mashable.com/article/anti-vax-facebook-groups-use-carrot-emoji-avoid-censorship
A growing number of Gen-Z are using TikTok for search over Google
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/16/technology/gen-z-tiktok-search-engine.html
The power of TikTok's algorithm
https://mashable.com/article/bisexuality-queer-tiktok
TikTok becoming a source of news for many
Netflix doesn't want you to binge-watch anymore
https://www.timeout.com/news/netflix-doesnt-want-you-to-binge-watch-its-shows-anymore-091522
Mental Health influencer gives people reasons to live
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-62902478
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/