I don't understand Tik-Tok

[pinkoos]

So I'm in my early 50s and realize that I'm probably not the target market but, still, I don't really understand it

I loaded the app maybe a couple years ago and created an account when my teenage boys requested that they be allowed to have accounts - I wanted to be able to monitor, if possible or necessary, when the situation arises

In that time period, I really only opened the app a couple times just to look up some young whipper-snapper guitarist that I found on a list of up and coming musicians to check out on Tik-Tok

I even thought I followed that person's account, but when I opened the app recently, I noticed that I haven't followed any accounts

Anyway, in the last couple weeks or so, I've opened the app just to check it out after not having used it for a very long time and I'm totally confused

Aside from the fact that there is no apparent way to mute the video that starts playing automatically when you open the app, the more disturbing thing is the content that I'm presented with - I would say that about 90% of the time as I scroll up to each 'next video' it turns out to be scantily dressed young women shaking their booties to crappy music or teasing some state of undress before the video ends

This just goes on and on and on - I have no idea why I'm being shown this crap when the only few videos I ever looked at were guitarists

What exactly is Tik-Tok for and what do people in the target market actually use it for?

[Markintosh]

I also don't get it, other than it's a medium for "influencers" to make money. Some do, but many people under the age of 25 seem to believe that all they have to do in life is become an influencer. It does work for some...but it sure makes it hard to hire people for jobs that are productive for society.

More baffling is my friends that say "I saw on Tok Tok..." and then take it for gospel. Wasn't it on Tok Tok that people started cooking chicken in NyQuil?

:oldfogey:

[vision63]

i was able to never install the um other challenger... um. Snapchat!

I'm still alive.

[Acer]

I let YouTube curate TikTok. When something on TikTok is good enough to go viral, it finds its way to YouTube.

Behold Muffin Man: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fKYPkVitMs

[Article Accelerator]

I think there's something wrong with my computer and iPhone—all the TikTok videos are the wrong way.

[vision63]

Article Accelerator wrote:
I think there's something wrong with my computer and iPhone—all the TikTok videos are the wrong way.

I kept pushing this idea for the past 5 years. Users being able to control video/photo orientation without needing to physically tilt the phone. My fear was that someway, people were going to just settle for the vertical format.

WHY AM I NOT THE KING????

[datbeme]

This place is great for a lot of things. Just not this.

[mattkime]

>as I scroll up to each 'next video' it turns out to be scantily dressed young women shaking their booties to crappy music or teasing some state of undress before the video ends

I think you had the answer all along.

[jonny]

It’s an algorithmic feed, folks.
The longer you hesitate on a video.., the more of that type your get.
Ahem

[Grateful11]

It's crap. I see a few on Facebook and skip them. The few I have clicked on are crap.