Why Instagram failed to become TikTok

Without reliable numbers, I can’t take this post seriously. As much as I am on “TikTok’s recommendations are better” camp, my direct surroundings only share things with me on Reels. Obviously it’s very age and location related observation, but when you consider places like Hong Kong/India, where it is banned, I don’t think IG is losing big way. Add that the usual “TikTok bad cause data mining”, you’ll get a lot of people who avoid it as plague.

That being said, I hope both of them magically disappear for the greater good of society :)

Re: Why Instagram failed to become TikTok

#6

Post by sschueller » Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 7:00 AM UTC

This may be one reason but it doesn't apply to me and I have used both significantly.

I spend far more time on TikTok now than Instagram and that is for a few reasons which may appear minor but make the difference:

  - When you open instagram you will see a photo/video and after a few seconds you are sent to the top unable to find what you just saw. TikTok does not do this unless you swipe out.
  - Videos on instagram can not be properly paused so when you need to stop a video for a few. seconds you can't. Instagram also doesn't allow you to seek/ffw some content, same issue in youtube shorts. 
  - On Tiktok you have all kinds of analytics about each post you make as a regular user.
  - From reports that I have read, tiktok pays creators a lot more than instagram.
  - When I post on tiktok I get far more interaction and this is probably also due to the localization of content and how it is broadcast/spread.

Re: Why Instagram failed to become TikTok

#7

Post by kaba0 » Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 7:02 AM UTC

Instagram also has a very good/addictive algorithm, for what it’s worth.

I think it is more just network effect in play here - I feel that every generation has their de facto social media platform — the “boomers” have facebook, then comes instagram, and among the youngest generations is tiktok the biggest.

Though I don’t have hard data on that, just anecdotal evidence.

Re: Why Instagram failed to become TikTok

#8

Post by yieldcrv » Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 7:10 AM UTC

sschueller wrote: post #6

This may be one reason but it doesn't apply to me and I have used both significantly. I spend far more time on TikTok now than Instagram and that is for a few reasons which may appear minor but make the difference: - When you open instagram you will see a photo/video and after a few seconds you are sent to the top unable to find what you just saw. TikTok does not do this unless you swipe out. - Videos on instagram ca…

the article sort of highlights the first point

the patent wars between multiple big tech companies have left the news cycle for a long time, but I wonder if this is a component of these distinctive UIs and algorithms, because TikTok's is obviously superior for both platform's goals

Re: Why Instagram failed to become TikTok

#9

Post by yieldcrv » Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 7:11 AM UTC

kaba0 wrote: post #7

Instagram also has a very good/addictive algorithm, for what it’s worth. I think it is more just network effect in play here - I feel that every generation has their de facto social media platform — the “boomers” have facebook, then comes instagram, and among the youngest generations is tiktok the biggest. Though I don’t have hard data on that, just anecdotal evidence.

TikTok's is far more addictive and engaging. instagram content is mostly just reposted TikTok for millennials to see two weeks later. Pause and check out the same content on TikTok and you'll see far more engagement and be sucked into the rabbit hole just for watching.

Re: Why Instagram failed to become TikTok

#10

Post by acuozzo » Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 7:12 AM UTC

kaba0 wrote: post #7

Instagram also has a very good/addictive algorithm, for what it’s worth. I think it is more just network effect in play here - I feel that every generation has their de facto social media platform — the “boomers” have facebook, then comes instagram, and among the youngest generations is tiktok the biggest. Though I don’t have hard data on that, just anecdotal evidence.

Teens often don't want to mingle with their parents/adults online, so they find their own place and many continue using it when they become adults.