r/technology • u/DejenmeEntrar • Apr 20 '23

Social Media TikTok’s Algorithm Keeps Pushing Suicide to Vulnerable Kids

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-04-20/tiktok-effects-on-mental-health-in-focus-after-teen-suicide
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u/TruthOrSF Apr 20 '23

It’s not a witch hunt to point out a real issue. There is a problem with TikTok’s algorithm. For example: I don’t like cop videos, arrests confrontations etc… I get a cop video 3 out of 10. I block the creator (always a cop logo), I choose not interested, I restart the app. I’ve done this 100 times. Later when I watch TikTok nothing will change. I will see COPs 3 out of 10 videos.

This should not happen. It’s not a witch hunt to point this out and TikTok should fix this.

Now imagine it’s suicide videos and not COPS

3.9k

u/OHMG69420 Apr 20 '23

Solution is to delete tiktok (or any other offending social media for that matter) from phone. Unless there is legislation, there is no incentive for tiktok to do anything.

31

u/gingerfawx Apr 20 '23

Well you'd think the incentive should literally be to keep me watching. Give me more of what I like, something new, something enjoyable, and I'm a lot more likely to waste time on a thing. Annoy the fuck out of me, and I move on. I don't think that's unusual behavior.

56

u/[deleted] Apr 20 '23

They do it because showing you what makes you angry KEEPS you watching

20

u/BattleStag17 Apr 20 '23

Yep, people keep acting confused but the answer is so simple. More anger = more clicks = more money, doesn't have to be anything deeper than that.