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Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok

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Re: Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok

#261

Post by mft_ »

bloody-crow wrote: post #204

Who actually wants this? Kids obsesses with TikTok don't care about federated/open source bits. People who do are not on TikTok or interested in this type of brainrot in the first place. What am I missing?

What you’re missing is that there’s maybe a bigger crossover between people (and age groups) who use TikTok and people who might prefer it if they weren’t tracked and monetised, than you are imagining.

My experience is that TikTok’e algorithm is so good it largely reflects the individual user. My feed is 99% wholesome - presumably because that’s how I’ve trained it over time. I’m amazed by other people’s stories of bad TikTok - just not my experience.

Re: Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok

#262

Post by socalgal2 »

mortsnort wrote: post #154

The reality is that the addictive algorithm of commercial social media platforms is the product . These alternative platforms are like nicotine free cigarettes. They might garner small communities, which is totally cool and valid, but they will never slay the giants.

Social media is its own problem . It’s got nothing to do with the algorithms and everything to do with being able to trivially broadcast to the entire planet.

Even with no algo the people posting want maximum exposure and have every incentive to try to get it.

Re: Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok

#264

Post by haltcatchfire »

thunfischtoast wrote: post #218
bloody-crow wrote: post #204

Who actually wants this? Kids obsesses with TikTok don't care about federated/open source bits. People who do are not on TikTok or interested in this type of brainrot in the first place. What am I missing?

Hackers sometimes create things not to actually use them, but because they are curious how something works and to see if they can

dansup, the guy behind this, is the same guy that runs Pixelfed (a federated Instagram alternative)

Re: Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok

#265

Post by boriskourt »

wiseowise wrote: post #253
boriskourt wrote: post #251

Earlier quoted context omitted.

TikTok has ~1.59 billion global active users, if you go to Cambodia you will have a hard time not seeing it in the wild. It is painful that this is still seen as some teen trend. People enjoy short form video, people should be able to enjoy things they like with dignity , which is in extremely short supply on algorithm and advert driven social media. Loops is nice because it isn't algorithm oriented. You can follow f…

> People enjoy short form video, people should be able to enjoy things they like with dignity, which is in extremely short supply on algorithm and advert driven social media. People “enjoy” heroin, crack cocaine, fentanyl too, should they “enjoy” them with dignity too?

yes, a lot of the issues around this come because of the lack of dignity.

Re: Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok

#266

Post by pyaamb »

bschwindHN wrote: post #236
pyaamb wrote: post #230

I've been casually daydreaming about possible paths an "AI augmented" newsfeed experience could take. I'm imagining an initial group of agents scraping the web for events (twitter/x, science/eng/business publications) that could potentially translate to stories that their end users (humans) might be interested in. those stories get picked up by another set of bots (equivalent to reddit posters) and get published on a…

How about you just _don't_ contribute to the slop pile? Also, that sounds like a machine that generates self-reinforcing echo chambers.

I would argue that:

1. "slop" doesn't come from just AI. Take a look at the headlines on your daily newsfeed. Carefully crafted by humans.

2. This is an application of AI that serves human values by what it attempts to preserve.

Re: Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok

#267

Post by framapotari »

wiseowise wrote: post #253
boriskourt wrote: post #251

Earlier quoted context omitted.

TikTok has ~1.59 billion global active users, if you go to Cambodia you will have a hard time not seeing it in the wild. It is painful that this is still seen as some teen trend. People enjoy short form video, people should be able to enjoy things they like with dignity , which is in extremely short supply on algorithm and advert driven social media. Loops is nice because it isn't algorithm oriented. You can follow f…

> People enjoy short form video, people should be able to enjoy things they like with dignity, which is in extremely short supply on algorithm and advert driven social media. People “enjoy” heroin, crack cocaine, fentanyl too, should they “enjoy” them with dignity too?

Would you prefer that they do it without dignity?

Re: Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok

#269

Post by boriskourt »

CqtGLRGcukpy wrote: post #198

It's worth keeping in mind that Loops is made by dansup which has also made and runs Pixelfed, FediDB, and has a history of being hostile to developers. You can see the recounting of his hostility at https://dansup-open-letter.github.io/appendix/ (I'm not a signature of the open letter)

This comes up here and there to discredit the developer but having followed all the drama for many years now I just want to add that Dansup has apologized multiple times, and has been far more open about his process. His communication has also changed for the better over the last two years especially. Its not easy being human, and I think its a good sign to see that he takes this seriously.

Re: Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok

#270

Post by andai »

wiseowise wrote: post #253
boriskourt wrote: post #251

Earlier quoted context omitted.

TikTok has ~1.59 billion global active users, if you go to Cambodia you will have a hard time not seeing it in the wild. It is painful that this is still seen as some teen trend. People enjoy short form video, people should be able to enjoy things they like with dignity , which is in extremely short supply on algorithm and advert driven social media. Loops is nice because it isn't algorithm oriented. You can follow f…

> People enjoy short form video, people should be able to enjoy things they like with dignity, which is in extremely short supply on algorithm and advert driven social media. People “enjoy” heroin, crack cocaine, fentanyl too, should they “enjoy” them with dignity too?

So the argument here is like a harm reduction argument, as in the decriminalization/legalization of hard drugs?

That seems a little uncharitable, though it does get me wondering... Imagine if benevolent hackers took over The Algorithm. What might they achieve?

They could promote high quality educational content, as is done in certain other nations.

They could utilize the companies' infinite knowledge of Skinner box mechanics to discourage and even break screen addiction, rather than cultivate it.

The possibilities are endless.

Any volunteers? ;)

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