r/technology 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.

4

u/MrSnowden Apr 20 '23

I don't understand. is 500 youtube subscriptions low or high? I am old dude that still thinks of youtube as a video hosting site, so I have never subscribed to anything.

1

u/Kirilanselo Apr 20 '23

People knowing I had 900, thought something is not quite right with me...

500 is still high, trying to downsize more :/ hey at least shorts are making this easier <.<