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TikTok has reached 1B MAUs

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Re: TikTok has reached 1B MAUs

#81

Post by dzhiurgis »

periphrasis wrote: post #31
jdlyga wrote: post #14

TikTok has definitely become the platform for short form video content. It used to be YouTube, but it's since matured into a place to watch more well produced videos in the 20 minute range. If you haven't given TikTok a chance, try it out.

Why would I want to watch short form video content? Genuinely curious here.

Same reason you’d use twitter I suppose. That said TT’s biggest advantage is it’s recommendation engine. It really picks up quick your interests.

Downsides of tiktok is:

* can’t find upload date

* cant effectively share links in comments (they aren’t clickable)

* pretty confusing video editor if you don’t wanna share results

Re: TikTok has reached 1B MAUs

#82

Post by dzhiurgis »

loloquwowndueo wrote: post #18
jdlyga wrote: post #14

TikTok has definitely become the platform for short form video content. It used to be YouTube, but it's since matured into a place to watch more well produced videos in the 20 minute range. If you haven't given TikTok a chance, try it out.

Wasn’t the tiktok app lambasted for being terribly intrusive and data-collecty?

Probably same as fb and insta. Just use it via browser.

(It wasn’t trusting my incognito mode when using playwright, but saving session while in iPhone mode worked)

Re: TikTok has reached 1B MAUs

#83

Post by sergiomattei »

romwell wrote: post #77
BitwiseFool wrote: post #17

One of the most surprising things to me about TikTok is that it isn't a Bay Area startup. For the longest time every hot social media app/platform was American.

That's because TikTok gets something that people here don't. Just look at this comment thread; very few people understand what's positive about TikTok, what's new and different about it, and why both Instagram and YouTube can't catch up. Literally all criticisms apply to Instagram too, but TikTok is not Instagram. That's because TikTok is way more decentralized than any other photo/video platform: it's less creator/c…

To be fair, HN is a particularly conservative crowd that I wouldn't say represents the tech industry as a whole.

Re: TikTok has reached 1B MAUs

#84

Post by periphrasis »

romwell wrote: post #76
periphrasis wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would I want to watch short form video content? Genuinely curious here.

Because you actually get to see people in their environment and interact with them by speaking in response, as you would have in an actual conversation. It's not about content , it's about communicating with video snippets .

Very interesting distinction. I remain deeply skeptical that this is a good or useful technology, but you’ve effectively summed up why it’s compelling to users in comparison to other social media. Thanks!

Re: TikTok has reached 1B MAUs

#85

Post by dzhiurgis »

spoonjim wrote: post #71
distribot wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand the big risk. They build a profile about the kind of short form videos you interact with. It's pretty limited.

Have you read about the Cambridge Analytica scandal?

Yea, it’s so overblown

Re: TikTok has reached 1B MAUs

#86

Post by spoonjim »

periphrasis wrote: post #31
jdlyga wrote: post #14

TikTok has definitely become the platform for short form video content. It used to be YouTube, but it's since matured into a place to watch more well produced videos in the 20 minute range. If you haven't given TikTok a chance, try it out.

Why would I want to watch short form video content? Genuinely curious here.

There's a broader question of "why would I want to consume any sensory input? Why would I want to read a book, watch a movie, look at a sunset, have a conversation?" I can't help you there, consult your local philosopher.

But if you do want to consume sensory input, what I find TikTok excels at is: * Dances / skits * Musical collaborations (esp. The Wellerman) * Funny little videos like with a kitten or puppy * Recipes / cooking techniques

Re: TikTok has reached 1B MAUs

#87

Post by detaro »

nunez wrote: post #65

It seems insane how quickly they did it. How long did it take for YouTube to reach 1B MAUs?

Youtube also started in a very different world in regard to ubiquitous online access, not to mention mobile online access.

Re: TikTok has reached 1B MAUs

#88

Post by periphrasis »

spoonjim wrote: post #86
periphrasis wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would I want to watch short form video content? Genuinely curious here.

There's a broader question of "why would I want to consume any sensory input? Why would I want to read a book, watch a movie, look at a sunset, have a conversation?" I can't help you there, consult your local philosopher. But if you do want to consume sensory input, what I find TikTok excels at is: * Dances / skits * Musical collaborations (esp. The Wellerman) * Funny little videos like with a kitten or puppy * Recip…

I particularly had in mind “why would I want to consume this particular form of sensory input in preference to others?” and “why is this good and useful to an individual and a society as opposed to just a platform for selling noise?” and “what are the social, ethical, and economic trade offs of devoting our time, privacy, and money to platforms like this?” As you note, these are questions that don’t necessarily have answers; I’m just trying to clarify for myself whether I should view 1B MAUs with dread, indifference, or appreciation.

Re: TikTok has reached 1B MAUs

#89

Post by f0e4c2f7 »

periphrasis wrote: post #31
jdlyga wrote: post #14

TikTok has definitely become the platform for short form video content. It used to be YouTube, but it's since matured into a place to watch more well produced videos in the 20 minute range. If you haven't given TikTok a chance, try it out.

Why would I want to watch short form video content? Genuinely curious here.

It's a similar dynamic to why tweets can be better than long form blog posts. The time limit forces content creators to actually get the content out. On YouTube (which I still love) it's endless intros, ads, disgressions, and sidetracks. YouTube videos often have the similar quality, it's just 40 seconds of content spread out over 12 minutes. TikTok and twitter incentive for denser content.

Re: TikTok has reached 1B MAUs

#90

Post by throwawaysea »

I worry about a platform controlled by China influencing so much of the world's conversation. For instance, the CCP could use moderation and algorithms to alter exposure of protests concerning Hong Kong or movements to free Tibet. Alternatively they could amplify the most extreme and divisive political content that destabilizes their adversaries. Whenever a platform grows to be this big, we need to treat it like a government unto itself, because it literally has government-scale influence and power. Platforms at that scale need to be regulated and treated like a public-run service (with transparency, neutrality, and local government control). It is absolutely bizarre to outsource control of society's speech to giant private platforms, especially ones that are under the control of a foreign government with a long track record of coercing its private companies.
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