How TikTok drags young target groups into deep rabbit holes
The Norwegian Broadcaster NRK just revealed how TikTok`s algorithms drag teenagers into rabbit holes.
TikTok is the world's most downloaded app and its the fastest-growing platform among children and youths in Norway today. The platform has been highly disputed for pushing unhealthy amounts of e.g. exercise, diet tips or depressive content through young, uncertain youths.
In this article NRK is telling the story about “Samuel”. He doesn't know it himself, but Samuel is standing on the edge of a deep rabbit hole. His search for «sixpack» has revealed the 13-year-old's deepest yearning: He wants a different body.
Innovative journalism
With the help of a TikTok robot, NRK is going to follow a fictional user similar to the 13-year-old from Norway. This allows them to document what happens when a yearning for bigger muscles meets TikTok's algorithms. The robot NRK has created is of the same age and from the same area in Norway as the real Samuel. All on its own, it will swipe on TikTok before and after school and if it sees muscles, gyms, or supplements, it's programmed to like and look at them longer.
Where will the algorithms lead him?
Despite «Samuel» having only been swiping for a short time, it's clear that TikTok is on the trail of what he yearns for. Just like the robot «Samuel», he ended up in a rabbit hole of extreme training videos and calorie counting.
Do you want to read the whole story about NRKs innovative, investigating projects on TikTok, just follow this link: This is how robot «Samuel» swiped on TikTok.
