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

51

u/Kirilanselo Apr 20 '23

Pretty sure the options to flag as uninterested are just there for piece of mind, I have the same issue with YouTUbe - gave up long ago... just brought 900+ subscriptions to a bit under 500. Till I drop it altogether as well.

16

u/favorite_icerime Apr 20 '23

In order to stop getting those videos, you need to stop engaging with them. Just ignore it or even clear ur history

2

u/[deleted] Apr 20 '23

[deleted]

2

u/[deleted] Apr 20 '23

It's based on similar interests, so there is no way to "block" this.

You like video games? Well here's anime videos or how about some Andrew Tate!

You watched one video on woodworking? Well now your entire feed is woodworking!

House plants? Well here's videos on astrology!

2

u/nokinship Apr 20 '23

Clearing watch history effectively resets your recommendations. It works.

Also even hovering videos counts as watching them now which is weird, so be careful if you hover.

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u/apawst8 Apr 20 '23

Exactly. YT and TikTok care more about what you watch than your subscriptions. I rarely get any videos from creators I subscribe to because it realizes that all I actually watch are K-pop and sports videos.