A guy wants to know what TikTok is. Instead of installing and using the app, he buy a book about it. I find it quite funny.

In its defence, this is just a guy posting some observations and a quick book review on his blog, which is awesome. I don't think it was intended as a TikTok analysis for the HN crowd.

But yet I still enjoyed the read none the less.

Totally agree though lack of substance.

Much like in TikTok.

There are a ton of cooking, fitness and home improvement channels that are quite educational actually.

I'm not trying to be too negative on it, but it's because there's zero liability. I luckily had a father teach me a ton about home improvement. Half the videos they host should be seen as negligent at best, criminal at worst. But, it's no worse than YT, in fairness. But if any 'real' business did this, they'd spend all day in court.

So just like PHP tutorials then.

You mean on TikTok?

Not sure if I agree totally...

I will say it's a "convenient" for those who don't want to meaningfully educate themselves on subjects through text.

Well that content benefits a lot by video. As for not being as good as books ok whatever. No need to gatekeep education.

  No need to gatekeep education.

Well, there's a need if one actually wants to learn something. A novice generally isn't in a position to know whom they can trust to teach them.

The internet could use, specifically when it comes to education, a lot more gate-keeping.

Awful and confusingly pretentious take.

Being able to see the desired outcome alongside the steps required to achieve said outcome is far more effective for fitness and cooking than reading about them. Not to mention the time saved, ease of sharing the knowledge, reviewing, etc.

I disagree. Have you tried the app yourself?

Strange. I see things like

• quality original skits & memes

• craftsmen making shorts about things such as the assembly process for a certain furniture

• doctors showing day-in-the-life videos as well as quick health advisories and PSAs

• remixes of existing music and indie artists promoting new music

• experts in niche fields, ranging from logistics, to theoretical physics, to law, to carpentry make quick, shallow-level explanatory videos of things that interest them

• everyday Joes essentially vlogging about interesting things that may be unique to them (like a medial condition, situation, or something else)

• … and yes, dancing teenagers.