TikTok is one of the world’s largest social media platforms, and its user base is still growing. Here’s why so many people are still addicted to TikTok and why they won’t stop using it anytime soon. TikTok has over one billion active users across the world, and that number continues to grow. If you’re currently out of the loop, this amount of use seems staggering, but there are very good reasons why so many teens are still addicted to the app. The biggest reason that so many teenagers, and people of all ages, are still addicted to TikTok is the app’s content discovery feed, better known as the ‘’ For You’’ page or FYP. This page acts as the primary timeline on the app and is how people find new content. TikTok is powered by a unique algorithm that uses Al and machine learning to populate the FYP with the most optimal content to show a particular user. To determine your interests, the app meticulously tracks which types of videos you primarily interact with. For example, if you like, comment, or share clips that center on the outdoors, then you will see more videos about the outdoors on your feed. The algorithm also established relationships based on different videos that the same users interact with. This is similar to Amazon’s ‘’frequently bought together’’ section that creates suggestions based on purchased products. ‘’Because it keeps me entertained,’’ Samia Yamin(12th grade) said. Another big reason why TikTok is so dominant is because of the prevalence of trends, such as dance challenges of popular songs or videos aligned with popular in-app filters. The algorithm prioritizes content that fits certain online trends that are popular at the moment. Since hot trends tend to gain more engagement, other users will frequently join in and create content that aligns with those trends. A big reason why trends emerge on TikTok is its audio system. When users upload a video, the audio of that particular video can be lip synced or used by other users. For example, if someone creates a remix of a popular song, that specific audio clip can eventually be used in thousands of other videos. This is also a big reason why TikTok has become the dominant way that songs garner streams and grow on pop music charts, like billboard and rolling stones. Many of the biggest and most dominant hits of the last two years originated from TikTok trends. Sometimes, obscure or old songs can get an unexpected boost as well. For example, Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams, released in 1977, recently became a trend on TikTok and returned to the pop music charts within the same week. ‘’It teaches me new things,’’Samia Yamin (12th grade) said.
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