TikTok is a whole new kind of social media platform. Unlike more traditional platforms like Instagram or Twitter where you manually curate your feeds by choosing to follow other people — likely people you know — TikTok uses an algorithm to curate a highly personalized video feed. This algorithm can get incredibly specific as it gathers videos that it thinks you'll like.
TikTok's main page is called the For You page – and it really means for you . For example, after being on TikTok for a while, the algorithm figured out that I was an adult emo kid (it was never a phase, mom) trying to learn French, spending too much time at play the Sims 4 , and is also queer. But TikTok's algorithm hasn't become so shockingly specific. It took me time and effort to tailor the videos so perfectly to my tastes.
While TikTok eventually learns the type of videos you like, when an account is brand new, it can be difficult to find content that interests you. At first, the For page will usually show you mega-viral videos from the app's most popular users, but if you want to see what other videos and creators exist, there are a few steps you can take.
When you start on TikTok, the easiest way to find videos is to look at trends. At the bottom of the screen next to the download button is the Discover icon. Tap it to find a collection of popular hashtags, sounds and effects.
Clicking on these videos makes finding entertaining content quick and enjoyable. By recording the sounds or interacting with the videos via likes, shares or comments, the algorithm starts to get an idea of what you like.
While in the Discover tab, use the search bar at the top to search for topics you like. When I first typed "Science" into the search bar, Tiktok showed me all the best videos on that topic. If I wanted to explore even more, I could have clicked on the options for users, hashtags, etc.
Unlike searching for sounds and trending topics, this method is an easy way to find a variety of videos with different hashtags and music. Liking videos (by clicking the heart-shaped "Like" button on the side) and following creators (by clicking the creator icon on the side of the screen, then the red "Follow" button ”) will help ensure that the type of content you enjoy appears on your For You page.
The more the algorithm learns about you, the more patterns you'll start to notice in the TikTok rabbit hole you've visited. Most of the time, these tendencies are built around sounds. Sounds can be audio clips from popular media, music, or even audio created by another user.
In the bottom right corner of a video, you'll see a spinning circle, and that's where the sound resides. By tapping on it, it's easy to find a wealth of other videos that use that sound (if the sound is trending or at least relatively popular).
Although you're only watching videos that use the same sound, it's a great way to find a wide variety of creators who may not have reached your For You page.
TikTok can be a great tool for passing time, socializing, or learning new things. At first, however, it may take a while to build the patterns before the algorithm starts doing the work for you. Just be careful – it's very easy to accidentally waste three hours of your day watching TikToks without realizing it.
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