What is the TikTok algorithm?
The TikTok algorithm is an artificial intelligence system that analyzes user data to personalize each person's experience on the app. It uses machine learning algorithms to determine what videos to recommend based on a user's individual interests, preferences, and behavior patterns. This includes watching, liking, sharing, commenting, and following certain accounts. The algorithm also takes into account video metadata such as hashtags and descriptions.
How does the algorithm amplify young-looking eroticized content?
The TikTok algorithm amplifies videos with certain keywords, tags, and visual cues that it identifies as being popular among younger users. These include trending sounds, dance challenges, makeup tutorials, and skincare tips. Videos featuring these elements are more likely to appear on the "For You" page of users who have engaged with similar content before. The algorithm also promotes videos with high engagement rates, such as likes, comments, shares, and views.
Why is this concerning?
This amplification can create a feedback loop where users see more and more videos that fit their interest profile, leading them down a rabbit hole of sexually suggestive content. Many users report feeling pressured to conform to these norms in order to stay relevant or gain followers. Some users may feel like they need to act out these behaviors in real life, leading to increased sexual activity at a young age or risk-taking behaviors.
What unconscious desires and fears are triggered by the algorithmic amplification?
Users may start to associate youthfulness with sexuality, creating an unhealthy obsession with physical appearance and body image. They may develop an unrealistic idea of what sexual experiences should be like based on these videos. This can lead to anxiety about aging, pressure to look young, and feelings of inadequacy compared to idealized standards. There is also concern around exploitation and consent, as many users are underage and vulnerable to online predators who use the app for grooming.
What unconscious desires and fears are triggered by the algorithmic amplification of young-looking eroticized content on TikTok, and how does this intersect with broader social anxieties about age, consent, and exploitation?
The algorithmic amplification of young-looking eroticized content on TikTok triggers various unconscious desires and fears that may be related to broader social anxieties about age, consent, and exploitation. One common desire is the need for sexual gratification, which can manifest as an attraction to younger individuals who are often perceived as more sexually attractive and responsive.