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How does TikTok's recommendation algorithm work?

It's the best I have ever tried. I have never found so many people with interesting hobbies on any other platform. TikTok actually learns from when I click "Not interested" unlike Instagram Reels that seem to ignore the "Not interested" button.




That's like asking how Google's algorithm works.

I can say that TikTok's recommendations feel actually under my control. Facebook and Google's recommendations seem to be about what THEY want to show me.

I know in all cases, it's the platforms controlling these recommendations, but no means no. Meanwhile, on my YouTube home feed I keep getting Murdoch/News Corp propaganda under the 'breaking news' section no matter how many times I say "not interested". No, I never click on them.

It feels like the hubris of product managers thinking they know best for me. Well, guess what, we have choices now.


TikTok issued a press release explaining exactly how their recommendation algorithm works.

https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/how-tiktok-recommends-vide...


Look up collaborative filtering, recommendation systems, etc. A sibling has a informative link but this is an active research area in CS also.


No different to a typical personalisation algorithm then, since they need to track every single action, video, profile and button you click and feed you more garbage to consume; making their algorithm better and more valuable for their shareholders.

As for the creators, they are once again working for the algorithm which can be manipulated and gamed by larger creators.




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