Pages

Sunday 25 July 2021

How TikTok's Algorithm Figures You Out - WSJ

The Wall Street Journal created dozens of automated accounts that watched hundreds of thousands of videos to reveal how the the TikTok algorithm knows you so well.

A Wall Street Journal investigation found that TikTok only needs one important piece of information to figure out what you want: the amount of time you linger over a piece of content. Every second you hesitate or rewatch, the app is tracking you. 

Photo illustration: Laura Kammermann/The Wall Street Journal