TikTok is now collecting more data about its users

Post by scarecrowbob » Sat, Jan 24, 2026, 7:59 AM UTC

jasonlotito wrote: post #52

wileydragonfly wrote: post #29

I played with TikTok for a week or so. Every time I opened it, it was suggesting feeds featuring clearly mentally impaired people with large audiences throwing money at them for saying their name. It felt like a very concerted effort to dumb down the American population. You wouldn’t listen to these people for 10 seconds out in public. The fetal alcohol syndrome phenotype was widespread. The entire experience was dis…

The fairly accurate joke is that the algorithm is really just telling on yourself. > it was suggesting feeds featuring clearly mentally impaired people with large audiences throwing money at them for saying their name I've never seen that. I saw D&D content and discussions about gamedev. The feed is what you make of it, and TikTok's very famous algorithm shows you what you signal you will watch. Feel free to disagree…

Post by mindcrash » Sat, Jan 24, 2026, 1:27 PM UTC

Post by direwolf20 » Sat, Jan 24, 2026, 2:38 PM UTC

lostlogin wrote: post #63

hshdhdhj4444 wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All Americans are probably better off using Chinese apps that the Chinese government uses to snoop on them and Chinese are better off using American apps that the American govt uses to snoop on them than the opposite. The impact the Chinese government can have on an individual American is minor compared to the US govt and the same goes for the American and Chinese govts on the average Chinese person.

> The impact the Chinese government can have on an individual American is minor compared to the US govt ICE are fighting hard to change this.

Post by direwolf20 » Sat, Jan 24, 2026, 2:44 PM UTC

shimman wrote: post #44

Refreeze5224 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is the solution? You imply that it is just to quit using it, but then you mention how super-addictive social media and especially TikTok is. Which it is, by design, by very smart people who very intentionally exploit every aspect of human psychology they can, for profit. I don't blame the victims of social media, I blame the architects of it. To me it's clear that social media does more harm than good, and is on…

The solution is simple, go interact with actual humans and make an actual bond. Hanging out with good friends feels way better than any social media I've ever used and I've been online shitposting since 1995.

Post by direwolf20 » Sat, Jan 24, 2026, 2:45 PM UTC

reactordev wrote: post #84

manuelmoreale wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The moment you insert algorithmic curation it stops being “just” a forum IMO. The moment you add gamification on top (karma points, likes, rewards) it stops being just a forum. Reddit is definitely not a forum the same way old-school forums were forums. And I don’t believe you can, with a straight face, say that they’re the same. Also, “Forums are platforms where the main purpose is to discuss the topic of any given…

I remember a time when Reddit didn’t exist. When phpBB and vBulletin were the hottest ways to build a community around a theme. I remember when they would get so large that you would need volunteers to help moderate. Now, karma and all that came from a way of making it so that the admins of this site have to do less moderation and let the best participants of this site have that power. It’s ultimate democracy.