How Does TikTok Actually Work? (It’s Scary…)

Cal Newport decodes the TikTok algorithm is episode 372 of the Deep Questions podcast.

Buy Cal Newport's latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow

Last week, it was announced that Oracle would take over operation of TikTok in the US. One of the primary reasons proposed for this deal is that it was in national interests for us to take over control of TikTok’s fabled “algorithm.” But what is this algorithm? How does it work? To what extent can it be controlled? In today’s episode, Cal looks deeper at these questions and arrives at a broader philosophical point about the role these services, in general, should play in our civic culture. He then answers listener questions on the same topic and reacts to the three recent news articles about TikTok’s influence on our culture.

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Links:
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/c...
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
https://www.the-independent.com/news/...
https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/arti...
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g...
   • TikTok’s Algorithm to Be Secured by Oracle...  
   • TikTok algorithm will be retrained and use...  

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0:00 Decoding TikTok’s Algorithm
44:41 Should I quit social media even if I don’t live on the slope of terribleness?
49:38 Is it bad to use TikTok to keep up with the news?
53:45 How does quantum computing relate to AI?
1:02:27 Trying to become a great composer
1:09:28 Tips for dealing with growing kids
1:18:27 Three Articles about TikTok (and Three Sighs of Exasperation)

Connect with Cal Newport:

🔴Visit Cal's BLOG and website: https://calnewport.com/blog/
🔴Check out Cal's books: https://calnewport.com/writing/
🔴Check out The Deep Life: https://thedeeplife.com

About Cal Newport:
Cal Newport is a computer science professor at Georgetown University. In addition to his academic research, he writes about the intersection of digital technology and culture. Cal's particularly interested in our struggle to deploy these tools in ways that support instead of subvert the things we care about in both our personal and professional lives.

Cal is a New York Times bestselling author of seven books, including, most recently, A World Without Email, Digital Minimalism, and Deep Work. He's also the creator of The Time-Block Planner.

The videos are considered to be used under the "Fair Use Doctrine" of United States Copyright Law, Title 17 U.S. Code Sections 107-118. Videos are used for editorial and educational purposes only and I do not claim ownership of any original video content. I don't use said video clips in advertisements, marketing or for direct financial gain. All video content in each clip is considered owned by the individual broadcast companies.

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