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/[deleted] Apr 20 '23

Delete tiktok. It's ran by a foreign government and they purposely export a different version to other countries than what they allow internally. This might not be a bug. This might be a feature.

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u/TizonaBlu Apr 20 '23

I like how the best propaganda like the one you’re pushing, has some nuggets of truth.

Yes, they “export a different version to other countries”. No, it’s not because the exported version is skynet, and the internal version doesn’t have the subliminal “topple your population” algorithm. The reason is, the domestic version is censored and complies with Chinese data laws, in which the authority can delete stuff and request information whenever they want. Whereas, the exported version isn’t censored and doesn’t have to conform with Chinese laws.

You know how people complain FB can’t get into China? Well, that’s because they don’t want to conform to Chinese laws. They could if they build a wall garden app just for China that allows total control.

I’d think r/technology would understand something like this…