TikTok and the network effects of creativity
eugenewei.com
TikTok and the network effects of creativity
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Re: TikTok and the network effects of creativity
#2The author is very incorrect.
> By network effects of creativity, I mean that every additional user on TikTok makes every other user more creative.
That is false.
TikTok isn't a creativity amplification network, it's a mimic network. The extreme majority of humans are mimics, they essentially never create or do anything creative or original. They are incapable of that (cue the outrage at such a statement, even though it's true). They play follow the leader across a lifetime. TikTok, like most social networks, represents that accurately. What TikTok does not represent, is a burst of individual creativity that is widespread.
It's a creativity distribution channel. The 0.01% that are originators distribute creativity to the drone mimics and they copy and share it.
That's exactly what the dance copying represents for example. There is no great creativity explosion going on there, quite the opposite. As with YouTube or any other distribution system, an exceptionally tiny percentage of people are originators, actually creative, the rest mimic and pander and try to scam their way to some views by copying or ripping off originators (you see this repeating trend represented in everything, eg content farms).
Re: TikTok and the network effects of creativity
#3The author is very incorrect. > By network effects of creativity, I mean that every additional user on TikTok makes every other user more creative. That is false. TikTok isn't a creativity amplification network, it's a mimic network. The extreme majority of humans are mimics, they essentially never create or do anything creative or original. They are incapable of that (cue the outrage at such a statement, even though…
> TikTok isn't a creativity amplification network, it's a mimic network.
Replication with some source of variation (such as even just “people aren't perfect mimics”, but “some people apply some minor modicum of creativity” enhances this) plus selective pressure (such as interesting novelty getting rewarded) is sufficient for it to function as as Darwinian creativity amplification system by way of being principally a mimic network.
Re: TikTok and the network effects of creativity
#4The author is very incorrect. > By network effects of creativity, I mean that every additional user on TikTok makes every other user more creative. That is false. TikTok isn't a creativity amplification network, it's a mimic network. The extreme majority of humans are mimics, they essentially never create or do anything creative or original. They are incapable of that (cue the outrage at such a statement, even though…
As a corollary to that, genuine creativity requires a lot more time and effort to appreciate than a 60 second vertical video.
Most of social media is just shallow attention grabbing time sinks. IOW, attention hacks.
Re: TikTok and the network effects of creativity
#5The author is very incorrect. > By network effects of creativity, I mean that every additional user on TikTok makes every other user more creative. That is false. TikTok isn't a creativity amplification network, it's a mimic network. The extreme majority of humans are mimics, they essentially never create or do anything creative or original. They are incapable of that (cue the outrage at such a statement, even though…
> TikTok isn't a creativity amplification network, it's a mimic network. Replication with some source of variation (such as even just “people aren't perfect mimics”, but “some people apply some minor modicum of creativity” enhances this) plus selective pressure (such as interesting novelty getting rewarded) is sufficient for it to function as as Darwinian creativity amplification system by way of being principally a…
I suspect that out of a zillion mimic events you will get a small number of truly creative bursts, yes. I think it's very rare though and wouldn't qualify as being widespread creativity or origination. Also those bursts of new/original content coming out of initial copying may primarily come from burgeoning originators that are just being born so to speak, rather than from the mimic group. I doubt the process overall results in an increase in originators.
edit: to the repeat downvoters instantly hitting every one of my comments, those that don't like the fact that I'm pointing out that humans are 99%+ mimics, I'd encourage you to add to the discussion and dissent from what I'm saying. I'd enjoy reading that counter. Everyone isn't a butterfly just waiting to be unleashed into the next da Vinci, that's a fantasy. It makes perfect sense that the majority operate as distributors, mimics, for things that the 0.001% come up with that work effectively. It would be an enormous biological waste of energy for everyone to be so creative, the mimic and distribute what works approach is logical. Humans do it with everything, including learning / copying skills, behaviors, systems, almost anything you can name. For example, there are always a very small number of teachers (as a share of the population) distributing knowledge/skills, and most teachers are also mimics, but they're custodian mimics that use various bullhorns to (ideally) spread what works faster. Teachers are rarely originators, the knowledge is passed down a distribution chain by mimics that serve various functions along the way. That's how a lot of systems in human societies work (politics and religion all work that way).
Re: TikTok and the network effects of creativity
#6The author is very incorrect. > By network effects of creativity, I mean that every additional user on TikTok makes every other user more creative. That is false. TikTok isn't a creativity amplification network, it's a mimic network. The extreme majority of humans are mimics, they essentially never create or do anything creative or original. They are incapable of that (cue the outrage at such a statement, even though…
As a corollary to that, genuine creativity requires a lot more time and effort to appreciate than a 60 second vertical video. Most of social media is just shallow attention grabbing time sinks. IOW, attention hacks.
I generally agree with that. It's one of the things people loved about TikTok, they got to feel like they were doing something creative or original, producing creative content, without having to invest years into learning how to actually dance. Copy some basic arm motions and movements, repeat it a lot until you memorize it, then record it and publish it. It requires very little thought, and the young crowd that is mostly doing it has a huge surplus of physical energy to put into copying & playing back mentally empty physical movement.
Re: TikTok and the network effects of creativity
#7The author is very incorrect. > By network effects of creativity, I mean that every additional user on TikTok makes every other user more creative. That is false. TikTok isn't a creativity amplification network, it's a mimic network. The extreme majority of humans are mimics, they essentially never create or do anything creative or original. They are incapable of that (cue the outrage at such a statement, even though…
> TikTok isn't a creativity amplification network, it's a mimic network. Replication with some source of variation (such as even just “people aren't perfect mimics”, but “some people apply some minor modicum of creativity” enhances this) plus selective pressure (such as interesting novelty getting rewarded) is sufficient for it to function as as Darwinian creativity amplification system by way of being principally a…
"Everything is a remix"
TikTok being a "mimic network" does not show it's not creative.
Creativity is primarily a product of creation, rather than one of originality and TikTok is, in fact, inspiring to create.
Re: TikTok and the network effects of creativity
#8[deleted]
Re: TikTok and the network effects of creativity
#9The author is very incorrect. > By network effects of creativity, I mean that every additional user on TikTok makes every other user more creative. That is false. TikTok isn't a creativity amplification network, it's a mimic network. The extreme majority of humans are mimics, they essentially never create or do anything creative or original. They are incapable of that (cue the outrage at such a statement, even though…
This reads to me like one of those 90's articles over-simplifying and underestimating the internet. Not that what you're saying is completely wrong, and trust me I'm not saying TikTok == the Internet, but the belittling tone is off-putting.
Re: TikTok and the network effects of creativity
#10The author is very incorrect. > By network effects of creativity, I mean that every additional user on TikTok makes every other user more creative. That is false. TikTok isn't a creativity amplification network, it's a mimic network. The extreme majority of humans are mimics, they essentially never create or do anything creative or original. They are incapable of that (cue the outrage at such a statement, even though…
This reads to me like one of those 90's articles over-simplifying and underestimating the internet. Not that what you're saying is completely wrong, and trust me I'm not saying TikTok == the Internet, but the belittling tone is off-putting.
I'd have to put a lot of effort into walking around the inevitable tone that is given off by calling the majority of people mimics. I know how that would have to come across. I don't think it's worth taking that long of a stroll to reach that outcome, the people that are going to disagree and instantly downvote due to outrage are never going to agree with the mimic premise no matter what I say or how I tone it.
I don't view the premise as bad at all, or negative. It makes sense, it's a very reasonable biological system of replicating/copying what works and passing it along; it's very energy efficient for a species, and historically we've had to conserve energy, our evolution would strongly favor a mimic what works system. As a concept it also doesn't elevate us above other biological systems that operate on this planet, we're not that special; whereas to pretend that everyone can be da Vinci is to falsify what humans are, to pretend every person is a creativity giant in waiting if only they got the right encouragement. It's just more of everyone gets a trophy culture in action.