Is this really what ticktok is?

[caketincan]

So I've never used Tiktok before but as I am ill in bed and bored I decided to download it and see what all the fuss was about. I joined using my google account and clicked on "for you" and started to scroll. Immediately I get videos which appear to be AI slop, teenaged girls streaming themselves just doing nothing, lots of videos of young girls dancing or otherwise acting provocatively, with what appears to be men in the comments posting likes and gross comments and weird videos where people are just doing dumb shit like running into a shop and shouting "brainrot phrases" whatever they are or "Hoya" these were not kids but middle aged British adults both male and female, one woman had posted a video where her young grand daughter finds an open window into someone elses home and shouts hoya into it. This appears to be Granny's whole content going into shops and pubs and shouting "hoya".

Its just bizarre, is this what tiktok is?

Pretty much. Certainly from what I've seen so not something I watch. A colleague has it esp for football moments. Just more SM nonsense to distract us.

@Pedallleur I knew it would be nonsense but I didn't realise it would be so bad and so seedy!

Most tik tokers are morons they talk about I have mental health and "fake accounts" (accounts without profile photos and a low amount of followers) there's one stream that is literally just someone being continually trolled having said all that it's kind of addictive

I suspect like any feed it will gradually curate to show you what you like.

I can waste hours on Insta because the reels I get are so bloody funny.

It depends, the algorithm is pretty good on tiktok so mine was mostly crafts and cooking with the occasional serial killer / caving story thrown in.

Ah so I'm just seeing the lowest common denominator stuff at the moment because its got no data on me yet?

Like most other forms of SM imo it soon degenerates into some kind of porn hub/fake news/look at me. Nobody on their deathbed will wish they spent more time on TikTok. If you use/enjoy the platform that's fine, just not for me

I also see how I managed to misspell Tiktok in the title here just like the mad and confused about the modern world old lady that I am!

No. Tik tok has everything. You just have to put a bit of time in to what comes up for you. Now I just get stuff I’m interested in. And I love it. A 15 second sound bite that I’m interested in. Because I have a few of my teenage dds numbers in my phone I do occasionally get a video of some of them doibg nothing but pouting and swaying, and I cringe for them, these are clever, lovely girls, but I scroll past quickly so I don’t have to see it again.

Mine's mostly skiing videos. If you stick with it then it will learn what you like.

Yes. And if ever you decide to get tiktok for your kids, open it yourself first so that you can get rid of the shit.

it has pretty much every type of content you can imagine on, search for things you like and it will start giving you a fyp much more personalised like all sm.

There’s someone on it from near me who has a huge following. She honestly thinks she’s some sort of celebrity (which is hilarious as everyone here knows exactly what she’s like). I downloaded it during the pandemic, deleted it and reinstalled it again just to see if the rumours I was hearing were true, which they are 🤣. I discovered it can be quite good for craft ideas, recipes and things you’re interested in.

I get cooking, cruise reviews and clothes styling for over 40's

Mine is a lot of current affairs, history posts, POC experiences, tv show reviews, restaurant reviews and animals. And by current affairs I mean from various global news outlets rather than internet sleuths. It has lead me to the funny Aussie ones though too.

I agree. It's absolute drivel. I created an account and deleted it both times. I just don't get it. I recently decided to give it another go but still think its shite.

It's all so mind corroding, don't invest yourself in a.mindless addiction

This place is bad enough!

I love it. I get recipes, crafts, cute babies and animals, DIY and home renovations. There are a lot of very funny people on Tik Tok and I laugh so much it gives me such a lift.

Yes, but also other stuff. Your foryou page will adjust to what you spend time on, comment on.

Ceciliaregina for instance is a PhD who talks about feminism and in my view is up there with the greats.

Then you get people like her, such as Sovereign Woman, Princella.

The lives can be fascinating from Dean or Parter, two politically minded young men, debating Trump supporters. Then there's Joe Willoughby who does it with Reform voters.

There are people discussing topics with insight. There's also weird bun fights from the regulars.

But if you watch the right stuff then actually TikTok can be wildly educational and eye-opening, and there are people on there doing genuinely invaluable, good work for society.

Must add there is also people reporting news. Okay, oftentimes they're a gammon cheering on fellow gammons in KKK cosplay using England flags, but nonetheless, you can get real time on the ground news from citizens.

That's important, though now of course (completely unsuspiciously) AI has come along to discredit every single piece of such news. It could be real, it could be AI. No one knows.

Thanks, OP, for confirming for me why I’ve never bothered with it.

I get watercolor techniques, hidden swimming holes and beaches in New England, recipes, a couple of local people who I follow, ideas for days out, some current affairs, some music, a few other random other topics thrown in periodically.

I used to get make up and clothes and celebs and people dancing but I repeatedly pressed the ‘not interested’ button and they stopped.

It’s really what you choose it to be.

I much prefer it to MN because I can hide all the twats.

No that's not all that is on it at all.

I have lots of sports stuff and lots of politics. Also travel stuff. Lots of comedians. Music. Cute animal videos. My dc use it for recipes too.

The algorithm is strong - it soon sorts out what you watch and what you scroll past.

You need to change your algorithm and then you’ll find it’s much better.