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TikTok has reached 1B MAUs

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Re: TikTok has reached 1B MAUs

#91
post #77

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…

I disagree. How is Tiktok different from Vine or YTMND aside from different video formats, editing tools and a catalogue of songs? I understand they were able to monetize it unlike the other two but they seem very much the same.

Re: TikTok has reached 1B MAUs

#92
post #77

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…

agree with all of this. in addition i am yet to see a content algorithm that is as good as tiktok's. i swear it knows what i like more than i do. ancedotally, whenever my close friend and i share a tik tok there is ~50% chance we have already seen it.

Re: TikTok has reached 1B MAUs

#93
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.

True, youtube was supposed to be for creator at first. It was popular because of hilarious short videos even their tagline was "Broadcast Yourself"

Re: TikTok has reached 1B MAUs

#94
post #23

I wonder how many of these users are unique. TikTok makes it simple to have two or more accounts. A number of content creators (especially ones who make NSFW non-nude content) have alt accounts that they can use when their main gets muted.

Those two or more accounts have a shared device id

Re: TikTok has reached 1B MAUs

#95
post #59
post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1B users don't know.

1B users will find out the hard way just like with every social network: Data breaches. Won’t be surprised to see it eventually happen.

What would even a total and complete data breach reveal about your average user though? That Jane Doe from Billings, Montana loves (has a high interaction rate with) short cat videos, squat exercise tutorials, and relationship-oriented TikToks?

None of these 1B users upload their credit card info or social security numbers to the platform.

Re: TikTok has reached 1B MAUs

#96
post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

I disagree. How is Tiktok different from Vine or YTMND aside from different video formats, editing tools and a catalogue of songs? I understand they were able to monetize it unlike the other two but they seem very much the same.

You mean, aside from literally everything that makes a platform?

I have outlined how it's different, already, but I guess I can give a more detailed answer:

* You interact with other users with videos in the same way you interact with users on HN with comments. There is a built-in tool to "quote" (aka Stitch), and link your video to a video or text comment that you are responding to.

* The "duet" mode enables a new way of interacting: making something together with other people, take and remix what they've done to make something new. In particular, using audio from other videos made something new: video memes, where people act to the audio that's being played.

If you've ever seen Rocky Horror Picture Show live-acted, it's like that, but at scale.

* Removing the friction for making a video is, in fact, a big deal. The format (vertical video), the very-much unpolished posts (unlike Instagram), the sheer quantity of them removes inhibition from hitting that record button and sending off your random thought about anything out there.

On top of this, one thing that I didn't mention is:

* Algorithm that does a good job of linking people to each other in addition to showing you content. As a result, TikTok automatically forms communities.

If you use reddit, you know how cohesive subreddits can be. TikTok's algorithm creates a somewhat similar experience by bringing people interested in the same things together.

I hope this suffices for a start.

Before further commenting, I'd recommend you actually use the platform. Forming a superficial opinion based on second-hand views doesn't result in being well-informed.

Re: TikTok has reached 1B MAUs

#97
Anyone who willfully signs up for foreign surveillance is simply dumb. There's no other way to put it. That applies (to a lesser extent, but applies all the same) to folks from other countries that sign up for the likes of Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, or whatever else the US Government can coerce into "intelligence data sharing", and increasingly narrative peddling and censorship. Even if you are liberal, this will to eventually bite you in the ass, and it'll be bad.

Re: TikTok has reached 1B MAUs

#98
post #97

Anyone who willfully signs up for foreign surveillance is simply dumb. There's no other way to put it. That applies (to a lesser extent, but applies all the same) to folks from other countries that sign up for the likes of Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, or whatever else the US Government can coerce into "intelligence data sharing", and increasingly narrative peddling and censorship. Even if you are liberal, this will…

So...instead of signing up for foreign surveillance, we should sign up for domestic surveillance?

Re: TikTok has reached 1B MAUs

#100
post #97

Anyone who willfully signs up for foreign surveillance is simply dumb. There's no other way to put it. That applies (to a lesser extent, but applies all the same) to folks from other countries that sign up for the likes of Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, or whatever else the US Government can coerce into "intelligence data sharing", and increasingly narrative peddling and censorship. Even if you are liberal, this will…

So...instead of signing up for foreign surveillance, we should sign up for domestic surveillance?

You are already signed up for US surveillance if you live in the US, and have no choice in the matter. You have a phone, right? Then they know all they need to know about you - your location, contacts, emails, bank accounts, vices and proclivities. I specifically said that people from _other countres_ would be dumb to do so.
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