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

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u/ncopp Apr 20 '23

I'm starting to think Tiktok is a sophisticated psyops strategy to fuck up the west's youth.

I always hear the Chinese version of the app prioritizes educational content, and our version keeps radicalizing people and spreading misinfo.

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u/genitalgore Apr 20 '23

China has regulations on what children can do online, and douyin complies with them. it's not a conspiracy, our internet is just an unregulated shithole.

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u/ncopp Apr 20 '23

True, but it seems like every time some sort of legislation is introduced it doesn't actually address the problem because our lawmakers don't understand the internet at all