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TikTok overtakes YouTube for average watch time in US and UK

bbc.co.uk

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Re: TikTok overtakes YouTube for average watch time in US and UK

#71

Post by crateless »

game_the0ry wrote: post #24

A couple of years ago, I noticed the youtube recommendations that would get were a lot less interesting, though still relevant to me somehow. At some point I started seeing a lot more "mainstream" content, especially after media companies figured out that they needed to have a youtube presence in order to stay relevant. So I wonder if the algorithm the switched to had something to do with them potentially losing atte…

I feel like some AI has decided that this video is "good for you". I have some videos on my feed for weeks on end. Now some videos I have already seen are reappearing without the red bar to signify that I have already watched them.

Something definitely stinks with the algo on YT currently. At least for me

Re: TikTok overtakes YouTube for average watch time in US and UK

#72

Post by anshumankmr »

toshk wrote: post #29
anshumankmr wrote: post #2

Something as massive as YouTube can be beaten. This feels like the circle of life, considering every empire that rises eventually falls too. Though I am not saying TikTok is the doom for YouTube since geo politics will play a significant role its future. And there are other metrics by which TikTok hasn’t probably caught up with YouTube yet like the size of the user base, revenue etc. What seems odd is how TikTok is m…

To be fair, Youtube VS TikTok is mostly the wrong comparison. Tiktok is mostly competing with the Insta/Facebook I need distraction so I'll let myself be numbed with external impulses as fast as I can get. Most similar was the story feature in Instagram, often also videos, although nobody every compared viewing them with Youtube. Although Youtube also has it's scroll/impulsive it's not a direct competition. Although…

I would not go as far as saying the comparison is wrong. From what I have read about the platform, it is a video sharing platform where teenagers can also insert currently trending music and share the content. There is also a home feed that works automatically by finding the best video suggested by an algorithm. So based on that description, it is fair to compare it to YouTube.

I agree YouTube /Instagram/Snapchat stories feature is closer to the experience of TikTok.

Though I making a guess since I have only read about it and seen some screenshots.

Re: TikTok overtakes YouTube for average watch time in US and UK

#73

Post by ipaddr »

jeromegv wrote: post #15
MathCodeLove wrote: post #11

I feel like I'm going crazy. Hasn't TikTok been proven malicious in it's excessive user tracking and data theft? Why does everyone I know still use it? Outside of privacy concerns, doesn't the blackbox algorithm make anyone worry? We're building automated echochambers for an entire population. We're giving a Chinese company the ability to control the content consumption, and therefore beliefs and knowledge, of entire…

How is that different than Facebook? We have known for Facebook shady data policies for 10 years, and that has never prevented people from using it, why do you think suddenly people would care more when it comes to TikTok?

Facebook wants your data to sell higher priced targeted ads.

Tiktok gives your data to China. I don't know what they are doing with it but they are not using it for better targetted ads. I guess when they request permission for my phone contacts, clipboard content, private photos at least I know they aren't using it for ads.

Re: TikTok overtakes YouTube for average watch time in US and UK

#75

Post by finfinfin »

colesantiago wrote: post #55
finfinfin wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because China is an authoritarian regime?

So? TikTok is just an app, what is point?

The point is that a company that is controlled by an authoritarian regime has a vast influence on the US population.

Re: TikTok overtakes YouTube for average watch time in US and UK

#76

Post by maverwa »

lm28469 wrote: post #21
MathCodeLove wrote: post #11

I feel like I'm going crazy. Hasn't TikTok been proven malicious in it's excessive user tracking and data theft? Why does everyone I know still use it? Outside of privacy concerns, doesn't the blackbox algorithm make anyone worry? We're building automated echochambers for an entire population. We're giving a Chinese company the ability to control the content consumption, and therefore beliefs and knowledge, of entire…

> We're giving a Chinese company the ability to control the content consumption, and therefore beliefs and knowledge, of entire countries. Note that non american feel the same way about google, netflix, amazon &co

Just a single point, but as a non american, I can say that I do not feel "the same way" exactly. Its close, in that I think, the discussion in the EU on Huaweis network equipment in telco nets, is a little bit overheated and I'd like to see the same requirements to be enacted on, for example, CISCO, whos security track record is ... not that good?

But I still think that 'chinese company owning a majority of internet video traffic' is WAY more scary than 'US company owning a majority of internet traffic'. Maybe thats just bias, maybe not.

But yes, I think there should be more relevant non-US big IT players to add more variety. But for a lot of reasons, the EU, and especially germany, just does not cut it in regard of IT expertise anymore. I am not saying this from a perspective of "disappointed patriotism" or something like that. Its more about having more choice would make thinks more interessting.

But on the other hand: more choice makes thinks like movie streaming less attractive. I do not want to have to sign with Netflix, Amazon, Disney, HBO, Apple TV AND Maxdome.

I guess we still cannot have the cake, and eat it, too.

Re: TikTok overtakes YouTube for average watch time in US and UK

#77

Post by _fat_santa »

finfinfin wrote: post #49
game_the0ry wrote: post #24

A couple of years ago, I noticed the youtube recommendations that would get were a lot less interesting, though still relevant to me somehow. At some point I started seeing a lot more "mainstream" content, especially after media companies figured out that they needed to have a youtube presence in order to stay relevant. So I wonder if the algorithm the switched to had something to do with them potentially losing atte…

Every TikTok user I know tells me that the primary reason they use it is the algorithm. Apparently it’s way ahead of YouTube. Anecdotally I am in the same boat as you—ended up removing the YouTube suggestion sidebar with an adblocker due to its increasingly poor quality.

One anecdote that I heard about the TikTok algo is that it favors new creators with I feel like this is what really helps TikTok always have fresh content. If you want to become a YouTuber, the path to having a good following can be years of grind. With TikTok, there is a good shot your first video might just propel you to stardom. Thus more people are inclined to create content for TikTok. It creates a feedback loop

Re: TikTok overtakes YouTube for average watch time in US and UK

#78

Post by simiones »

ipaddr wrote: post #61
elliebike wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's no different to most other social networks that commit mass abuse of user data and track everyone, everywhere. Being a US-based company doesn't make this any better, just look at Facebook. The only people who worry are people on HN. Most other people aren't aware of what's going on, or just don't care.

And the state department. Letting that on your phone is allowing your contacts, photos and text messages to be read. Same goes with facebook. But facebook will try to profit off of your data. Tiktok data goes to China. I don't know what they are doing with it..

> But facebook will try to profit off of your data. Tiktok data goes to China. I don't know what they are doing with it..

FB data also goes to the US government. I don't know what they are doing with it..

Re: TikTok overtakes YouTube for average watch time in US and UK

#79

Post by theshrike79 »

Yea, the Youtube algorithm is the "pick me girl" of algorithms.

I watched one video by a creator I already follow about their solar panel installation and water-catcher garden irrigation.

What do I get in my recommendations? Dozens and dozens of videos from completely random channels about solar panel installation and gardening.

I very rarely find new creators on YouTube, who produce consistent high quality content. I follow a handful of channels and even from them I lookat 20-40% of their videos.

TikTok on the other hand I swore I'd never use. Then came Covid19 and lockdowns. I reached the end of HN, Reddit and Youtube, so I installed it.

The Algorthm is fucking amazing. Dunno how they do it, but 80-90% of stuff it shows me I end up watching (it is 10secs to 3 mins so the investment isn't that huge =) ).

I've ended up following, among others, an opthalmologist who does sketches about hospital stuff, to mechanics who show the most f'd up cars they get to service, to farrier and sheep shearing videos to a guy who does comedy about weird animal facts.

I'd never actually go search anything like that on purpose, but I actually kinda found out I enjoy looking at. It's a good way to space out for 30 minutes and relax. Most TikTok videos get to the point before a stereotypical YouTuber has gone through their intro and sponsor segments :)

Re: TikTok overtakes YouTube for average watch time in US and UK

#80

Post by bobobob420 »

pilooch wrote: post #59
MathCodeLove wrote: post #11

I feel like I'm going crazy. Hasn't TikTok been proven malicious in it's excessive user tracking and data theft? Why does everyone I know still use it? Outside of privacy concerns, doesn't the blackbox algorithm make anyone worry? We're building automated echochambers for an entire population. We're giving a Chinese company the ability to control the content consumption, and therefore beliefs and knowledge, of entire…

TikTok algorithm is like a tamgotchi with short memory. The echo chamber is actual much less than on other systems, or at least this is my actual understanding. I've been working on AI and ML for 20+y now, I'm always interested is testing the systems out there from the user side. Overall, I've been surprised by TikTok, as I did find it very enjoyable actually, and easily 'trainable'.

Why does YouTube not change their algorithim. It is clearly sub tier to tik tok, they have the data and skill set to provide new and entertaining videos but the recommended feed has been so stale and stagnant for a few years, constantly pushing videos you’ve seen or ones you clearly don’t want to watch. How much of tik tok’s success do you think is their algorithim for recommending content. I heard from numerous people how addicting it is and how every video is different. Do you think the short videos give more instant gratification which has a Large effect? I use YouTube shorts and for the most part it is really entertaining
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