TikTok users don't have as much agency over their FYPs as they think
Summary
Researchers from Northwestern University studied how TikTok’s For You Page (FYP) algorithm reacts to user feedback. They found that while users can reduce unwanted videos by marking them "not interested," the effect usually fades unless users keep providing the same feedback repeatedly.Key Facts
- TikTok’s FYP uses an algorithm that looks at how long users watch videos and if they like or follow content creators.
- Some users feel their negative feedback, like clicking "not interested," does not stop certain videos from appearing.
- Northwestern researchers created 90 bot accounts to test how the TikTok algorithm responds to different signals.
- Their tests focused on three video types: cooking, fitness, and sports betting.
- Using the "not interested" button reduced unwanted videos by about 84%, but skipping videos only lowered them by 48%.
- The "not interested" button is not always easy for users to find.
- The algorithm often returns to showing unwanted videos after a short time, especially if the user briefly interacts with that content again.
- The research shows TikTok’s algorithm needs constant, repeated negative feedback to keep unwanted videos off a user’s feed.
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