The Hustler's Digest StaffAre you spooked out about the fact that you were just thinking about something, and now it’s being shown to you on Tiktok? Don’t worry; it’s not the AI taking over. Read our article and decipher this mysterious phenomenon of how Tiktok reads your mind.
If you’re one among the billion people (literally!), who use TikTok every month. Then, you’re probably familiar with the app as the key vehicle for young people to showcase their youth and online culture in 2023. It shows an endless stream of videos. Unlike the other social media apps it is quickly displacing, TikTok functions as more of an entertainment platform than a way to communicate with friends.
The app is surprisingly adept at recognizing your tastes and directing you to one of its many “sides,” whether you’re interested in socialism or excel tips or dancing, conservative politics, or a particular celebrity. This is fascinating for many users who consume content without creating it. Even to content creators, it is incredibly effective at exposing people’s desires. For this reason, certain TikTok users are expressing privacy concerns about how the app sometimes guesses their preferences creepily accurately.
TikTok is an exceptionally well-curated and technically optimized app that has people believing that it’s probably reading their minds. In this article, we reveal all the secrets to how TikTok efficiently tracks our thinking to suggest content according to your likes. So read on to learn how TikTok reads your mind and what led to the speculations of TikTok reading your mind.
Why is TikTok popular, and why is it rumored to be reading minds?
TikTok is one of the most popular apps on the market. However, this is not the result of twenty-somethings from Silicon Valley. TikTok is the brainchild of 35-year-old Zhang Yiming, who lives in China and whose startup ByteDance, has experienced explosive growth. He is actually worth more than $16 billion (this makes him the 13th richest person in China).
Zhang founded his company in 2012 by introducing an online news service that relied mainly on AI. He would later build TikTok and Doyin a few years later (which is the Chinese version of the app).
TikTok is one of the most popular social media sites in 2023, with one billion active members dispersed over 154 nations. It is the world’s sixth most popular social media platform, with over 1 billion videos seen each day. It has surpassed Twitter, Telegram, Reddit, Pinterest, and Snapchat in terms of monthly active users. TikTok allows advertisers to reach 885 million of its members aged 18 and up, making it a fantastic marketing avenue.
Simply said, TikTok’s success may be traced to how it subverts what we typically think of as social media while simultaneously bringing us back to the concept that gave it its initial attraction in the first place: the potential to go viral.
It’s encouraging to have a platform with an algorithm that prioritizes content over anything else. We’ve all been focused on maximizing reach by amassing a sizable fan base through subscribers or followers. But TikTok has proven to be a game changer.
TikTok is driving meme culture to new heights because of the focus it places on the content, providing Gen Z a public platform to be themselves and enabling marketers to engage with their audience in extremely engaging ways. They are also actively working to increase user confidence, ultimately determining the platform’s destiny.
TikTok draws these users in a variety of ways. The ease of use is the first benefit. TikTok makes editing and posting material far simpler than other applications like Instagram or Snapchat. Content can be readily created and posted by anyone with a smartphone.
The second reason TikTok is so popular is that TikTok is a distinct, specialized program that appears to have been created for the younger generation of today, which is typically engrossed in their cell phones and is usually looking for ways to get rid of boredom.
These youngsters find TikTok appealing as they have a limited attention span, and the brief humor video segments are comfortingly recognizable because they appear across the entire platform in abundance. The third reason for the immense popularity is that they employ cutting-edge technology to specifically read people’s minds (which we’ll be unveiling how further in the article)
People of all ages love music, which is essential to the app’s success. There is always something new to do, a new dance to learn, a new joke to tell, etc., thanks to its amazing features that encourage the creation of new trends, memes, and challenges. In short, TikTok makes it simple for people to engage with others on social media by providing a variety of platforms and methods for self-expression. There is everything you need right there; you don’t even need to hunt for it.
Teenagers’ desire to leave platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat and have a space of their own where their parents couldn’t see what they were doing helped TikTok expand even more. Despite the fact that the idea behind this app isn’t particularly novel, it is entertaining, provides a different outlet, and differs from what is already available.
It’s no secret that TikTok is one of the most widely used social media sites, but have you ever pondered upon the fact that why does it sometimes feel as if the app is reading your mind? There’s a really straightforward explanation for it which we’ll be getting into detail later on.
However, due to widespread misconceptions spread by conspiracy theorists who spread rumors in order to gain views and likes, it was and is frequently claimed that TikTok can read your mind and that this is why it only displays carefully selected content, keeping users hooked for hours and generating income for the app’s owners.
People went as far as to claim things like they were looking at a certain chocolate and were considering buying it and didn’t even talk about it with anybody, and then all of a sudden, a particular advert regarding that specific chocolate started popping up on TikTok; such ideas that were spread promoted the idea that TikTok reads your mind. In addition, there is a document circulating online, “how TikTok reads your mind,” which is adding fuel to the fire.
Does the popular social app “TikTok” really read your mind?
The most straightforward response to TikTok reading your mind is no! No, it does not. However, a highly sophisticated algorithm system tells you what you might enjoy based on what you have previously viewed. This is usually displayed or suggested in the “For You” section.
Speculations and false stories concerning “TikTok reading human minds” have gained tremendous traction in the realm of social media. In any case, why shouldn’t they? TikTokers are becoming increasingly concerned as the viral phenomenon grows. They believe that whatever is being circulated is correct. But everything heard is not to be believed without a proper background check.
What led to the speculations of TikTok reading your mind?
Many things led to people speculating that TikTok reads your mind, but the most prominent was the secret document “how TikTok reads your minds” that caused the frenzy. The New York Times reported in 2021 that an unidentified business employee had discovered something dubious about TikTok: it employs algorithms to increase traffic. This is done in order to increase engagement rates, which will allow TikTokers to earn more money.
The Beijing technical team of TikTok created TikTok Algo 101. Suddenly and in an unexpectedly suspicious manner, The New York Times obtained this paper, and a ton of crucial and private information was suddenly made public. All that new information about how TikTok can be so addicting for users had been made available to the general public.
Hilary McQuaide, a company spokesman who confirmed the document’s authenticity, said that TikTok prepared this document to explain how their algorithm functions to non-technical staff. As a result, they don’t need technical skills to grasp the algorithm.
You might be curious about how “TikTok Algo 101” got to the New York Times. This material was given to an unnamed reader with the authority to read it privately. This person was horrified after reading the document. After reading the document, it was revealed that TikTok aggressively pushes triggered content to attract users’ attention, including delicate subjects like self-harm and suicide.
What is the “TikTok algorithm” that is responsible for the notion of TikTok reading your mind, according to “TikTok Algo 101”?
TikTok is based on artificial intelligence (AI). This technology enhances the creation, selection, and recommendation of information. TikTok’s divinatory properties are the result of a series of recursive operations, just like any algorithm. In order to learn how they connect with a variety of content, algorithms target new users with well-liked videos from various genres.
Which videos show up on your (individual and highly tailored) For You page is decided by the TikTok algorithm, which is a recommendation system. On their For You page, no two users will watch identical videos, and the videos you see may change over time based on your viewing choices and even your emotional condition. The TikTok For You page algorithm is described in the following manner by TikTok:
“A stream of videos curated to your interests, making it easy to find content and creators you love, powered by a recommendation system that delivers content to each user that is likely to be of interest to that particular user.”
What does the document “TikTok Algo 101” say?
According to “TikTok Algo 101,” the algorithm behind TikTok was created to recommend, figure out, and forecast users’ preferred interests. As a result, the app can effectively gain more users who get extremely dependent on it.
The paper specifically provides the mathematical foundation of the program as well as an understanding of human nature: the tendency between monotony, sympathy, and cultural features, which explains why users find it so difficult to stop using the app. How does “TikTok Algo 101” explain the TikTok algorithm, then?
The goal of the first algorithm is to grab your attention quickly. On this site, a number of videos are promoted with an alluring hook that will compel you to view or even replay them repeatedly.
In order to provide you with up-to-the-minute related-topic videos, it can track your past behavior and make educated guesses about your preferences or recent concerns.
The document also demonstrates how the business adapts its system to identify and eliminate hooks and takes more intricate issues into account. TikTok even promotes videos with depressing themes or other triggers in order to draw in more users. When these videos become popular, the applications will keep recommending more and more content with related themes.
Additionally, the report demonstrates that TikTok doesn’t just consider how many times viewers have viewed a video when optimizing its suggestions for its users. The number of likes and comments a video receives from viewers, its total playtime, and whether or not users view the video are the three most significant factors that TikTok’s algorithm considers. The algorithm for a clip is as follows, as stated in “TikTok Algo 101”:
Plike x Vlike + Pcomment x Vcomment + Eplaytime x Vplaytime + Pplay x Vplay
Last but not least, the released paper stated that this equation determines the scores of all videos and that the user who owns the videos will receive a good amount of points for as many views as his videos get. But seriously, don’t we all believe the content in the videos posted on this platform by various TikTokers and play and share them several times? They are quite addictive, and the constant playing and sharing of certain videos increase the content creator’s points.
With this in AimfulMind, we can conclude that the experts did not take the conspiracy or the “falsified news” seriously. It is because they were aware that TikTok’s algorithms record metrics (such as comments, likes, favorite videos, watch time, shared videos, and saved videos, which we’ll cover in more detail in the article).
How does the TikTok algorithm work?
The working algorithm of TikTok isn’t as complicated. The released paper described the algorithm mathematically; now, let’s get into the details of how TikTok reads your mind using the algorithm. Social media platforms kept their algorithms a secret. This makes sense, given that the recommendation engine is a patented technology that contributes to the distinctiveness of each social network.
Social networks rely heavily on algorithms to bring us in and keep us interested. TikTok doesn’t want spammers and other sketchy individuals to be able to manipulate the algorithm to gain more popularity than they should.
Well, guess what? Algorithms weren’t taken lightly by TikTok’s developers. They meticulously researched human psychology, which aids in suggesting as well as anticipating what a user likes to see. It is based on the measurements, as was previously stated. You consequently get the impression that “TikTok is reading my thoughts.” Now that we are familiar with the fundamentals, let’s get to the meat of the matter: how does TikTok scare us using algorithms?
First and foremost, it is important to recognize that calculations are the primary basis on which algorithms operate. The users are given recommendations for fresh videos based on these calculations. Typically, algorithms perform best when they are a few months old. You will likely not see precise or accurate recommendations if you’re a novice TikTok user. However, recommendations are based on different content for new TikTok users without taking preferences into account.
The majority of platforms, however, have made the fundamental principles of their algorithms public as people’s skepticism about social networks’ inner workings has grown. Fortunately, this means that we now have access to some of the most important ranking signals used by the TikTok recommendation system, which we describe in more depth below.
How TikTok reads your mind using features of the algorithm that determine recommended TikTok videos?
There are certain features employed by TikTok to read your mind. TikTok recommends content to its users based on a range of data sources. The TikTok app examines elements, including the user’s location, the kinds of content they’ve previously interacted with, and even how long they spend watching each video.
However, user behavior may be the most crucial element in TikTok’s suggestion algorithm. The app continuously tracks user video viewing habits, including what they watch, how long they watch it for, and whether they enjoy, share, or comment on the videos. TikTok can accurately forecast the videos each user will want to watch based on this data.
Of course, not everyone uses TikTok to view the same content. The app also allows users to modify their recommendations in its setting. Users can select which topics they wish to see more (or less) using the small gear icon in the “For You” menu.
You probably understand how Tiktok reads your mind and why it always knows exactly what you want to watch. User interactions, video data, device and account settings, and video content primarily influence the TikTok algorithm. Everything that you might see is based on the algorithm’s features. How do they work? Let’s have a look.
- User interactions
- Location and language
- Video information
- Audio
- Device and account settings
User interactions
This is the most critical factor in determining TikTok’s algorithms. Your function as a user is played out through the interactions you do. But what does it all mean? It refers to the types of activities you engage in when watching movies. TikTok’s algorithm, like Instagram’s, bases its suggestions on user interactions with the app’s material. It covers TikTok likes, shares, comments, sharing, watch time, re-watching, and so on.
How does the algorithm operate, or how does TikTok understand your mind based solely on algorithms? These are highly complex equations that function perfectly. It generates a unique personalized FYP for each TikTok user. This proprietary algorithm works best for folks who have been active on TikTok for some time. The For You page suggests content based on a variety of criteria, including:
- Which accounts do you follow?
- Comments you’ve made
- Creators or sounds you’ve chosen not to listen to
- Videos you’ve liked or shared on the app
- Videos you’ve saved to your favorites
- Videos you’ve marked as “Not Interested.”
- Videos you’ve flagged as inappropriate
- Longer videos that you watch all the way to the finish (aka video completion rate)
- The material you create on your own account
- Interests you’ve shown by interacting with organic content and advertisements
Location and language
We are all aware that English is spoken and understood in most countries. That is why the bulk of TikTok videos are in English. Even individuals who do not understand English can watch videos in the same language. Regarding TikTok algorithms, however, the language spoken in your area will be displayed in the recommended videos. What does it mean? It goes without saying that TikTok algorithms are fairly powerful in terms of functionality.
How is it beneficial to the average TikToker? The audience can be more easily targeted for leads, campaigns, and other similar things by brands and businesses using TikTok as a marketing tool (this is the tagging model TikTokers use, which we’ll discuss later on). The location of the videos being posted, the app’s preferences, and the type of device being used are the elements that affect the choice of language the app curates.
Video information
In contrast to user interaction signals, which are based on how you interact with other app users, video information signals are based on the types of content you frequently look for through Discover or Search. The videos you watch might give off information regarding your video preferences which may include:
- Captions
- Sounds
- Hashtags
- Effects
- Trending topics
Audio
TikTok, interestingly, does not simply recommend videos. It displays all of the videos that are currently popular on TikTok. Essentially, the audio is a component of the video. So it’s not like you’ll just hear music and see nothing! Keeping this in mind, we must mention that to make any video viral. TikTok takes advantage of trendy sounds. That is why you see videos with the same music virtually every other day.
Device and account settings
TikTok employs these variables to improve performance. However, because they are based on one-time settings selections rather than active interactions, they do not have the same impact on what you see on the platform as user interaction and video information signals. The TikTok algorithm takes into account the following device and account settings:
- Preference for a language
- Location in the countryside (you may be more likely to see content from people in your own country)
- Mobile device type
- Your picked categories of interest as a new user.
What’s not included in the TikTok algorithm?
Everything we see on the For You page is not part of TikTok’s algorithm responsible for reading your mind. TikTok suggests certain things TikTok users may believe based on the user’s preferences (or, more particularly, when TikTok reads your mind). However, they are not and are simply based on the videos you view. The algorithm will not recommend the following types of content:
- Duplicated content
- The content you’ve already seen
- Content the algorithm flags as spam (including videos “seeking to increase traffic artificially”)
- Potentially upsetting content (TikTok gives examples of “graphic medical procedures” or “legal consumption of regulated goods”)
How do content creators use TikTok to read your mind?
TikTok has certain features up its sleeves that helps content creators to know your preference and direct their content towards you. TikTok does not utilize microphones and cameras to eavesdrop on your every move, as the benefits outweigh the hazards of using this technique (and obviously law won’t allow it). You’re the one that actively informs TikTok of everything.
You know it takes 5 or 6 times to guess a number from 0 to 100 via dichotomizing. Not to mention the video material, as we are sure everyone has multiple interests in content, making it easier for TikTok’s recommendation algorithm to strike you.
TikTok tags you based on several things. In a nutshell, TikTok has various techniques that TikTok content creators utilize to receive customized views for their videos and grab their content-specific audience.
The algorithm of TikTok curates content for the viewer favoring the content creators in the following ways.
- Rate of play completion. This is a critical signal because it is heavily weighted in the recommendation model. You’ve probably seen some suspenseful videos where the answer is often revealed only halfway through the video. This is the video author attempting to entice you to finish playing or maybe play again. By successfully completing the first play, 80% of the goal has already been met. On the contrary, if you exit this type of video frequently, the algorithm will conclude that you are no longer interested in it.
- Content search is a point content creators usually don’t bring up quite often since it is usually dismissed. Keep in mind that the interface of TikTok will form a very strong impression on you when you actively seek content, as it would want to feed your curiosity. When you search for certain tags used by the content creators in search for your answers, those videos with relevant tags will be shown to you, and you’ll probably click on them to get your answers, thus providing views to the creator of the video. This is how cleverly the creators of videos grab onto their audience.
How is TikTok’s algorithm so accurate at reading your mind?
The algorithm of TikTok is quite accurate at reading your mind for quite a few reasons. If you’ve ever happened to have a conversation with your friend regarding TikTok’s algorithm, the adage “knows me better than I know myself” might be used quite a few times. This is a sign of an excellent recommendation system; the thing is that there is a statistical perspective to what makes it so effective.
The TikTok data science team has undoubtedly contributed to many recommendation systems that use sophisticated machine-learning methods. Our focus, however, will be on how TikTok already has a significant advantage due to the data it uses for this exercise and the platform’s content style.
We’ve reviewed how the TikTok algorithm works to read your mind or show you your preferences. These algorithms are based on what is known as a user-item matrix. This is effectively a table, with each row representing a unique person and each column representing a unique item that the algorithm must recommend. This system can also be observed when you get suggested tunes on Spotify, films on Netflix, and other people on Tinder.
Each table cell contains a value representing some form of interaction between the user and the content. This could be whether a user liked a post on Instagram, gave a product a star rating after using it (Amazon), or finished listening to music (Spotify). This is known as feedback since it tells us whether or not the user enjoyed the item and, in some situations, how much they liked it.
Using this data, we may find other users that are similar to a certain user and recommend goods that those users have watched/bought, etc. They can be recommended to other content based on what other people have consumed.
How does this relate to the quality of recommendations?
The quality of feedback dramatically influences the quality of recommendations. Higher-quality user preferences information leads to higher-quality recommendations. Two major aspects influence input quality: implicit vs. explicit feedback and feedback granularity.
Implicit feedback refers to unconsciously and naturally occurring user interactions that can be used as a proxy for the user’s genuine preferences. Implicit input can include whether someone commented on a LinkedIn post, clicked on a playlist on Spotify, or followed another person on Twitter. This interface is effectively applied on TikTok as well.
Explicit feedback refers to genuine ratings that people have given to things. This offers more information than implicit feedback because we don’t have to assume the user’s genuine preferences. User ratings of things (Amazon), videos (TikTok), and apps (App Store) are some examples of explicit feedback. Although explicit feedback provides more information, gathering this data is far more difficult. Because rating videos demands more effort from the user, fewer will do so. The result is a highly sparse user-item matrix with few entries, resulting in a less-than-optimal recommendation system.
The granularity of feedback relates to the amount of information the interface obtains from it. A rating scale of ten provides more information than a rating scale of five, which provides more information than a rating scale of two. It enables them to determine whether a user liked or disliked a particular item and how much they liked or disliked it.
Most implicit feedback data is binary — did a user execute a specific action on this item or not — and hence less granular than explicit feedback data; yet, it is considerably easier to gather because it requires less work from the user; this is how TikTok maintains the quality of its quality of recommended videos.
Is TikTok the only app that has the capability to read your mind?
While TikTok might seem like it can read your mind, it’s certainly not the only one. Social media has evolved into a critical part of our global and local communication infrastructure. It shapes how we connect, work, and even think.
On platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, we interact with friends, family, colleagues, and even strangers. Apps like WhatsApp and Telegram facilitate our personal conversations, and tools such as Zoom, Teams, or Slack support our remote collaborations.
Recommendation engines power many services we use daily, from shopping and streaming to search engines. These systems aim to personalize user experiences, tailoring content to individual preferences based on their interactions with the platform. For instance, the actions you take, like commenting or following, guide these algorithms to curate content you’re likely to enjoy and skip what you won’t.
Facebook, notably, is developing technology that could literally read your mind by interpreting brain waves. This technology aims to enable users to type messages using only their thoughts, potentially revolutionizing how we communicate.
Such advancements reflect the deepening integration of social media in our lives and brains, making it seem as if these platforms can indeed read our minds.
However, TikTok’s algorithm has not reached the point of literal mind reading but excels at predicting user preferences. TikTok’s For You page is a testament to this, where the content you see is tailored based on videos you’ve interacted with, including your likes, shares, and comments, as well as the hashtags and captions you engage with.
TikTok utilizes machine learning to analyze your viewing habits and preferences. According to cybersecurity expert Jake Moore from ESET, TikTok’s goal is to keep you engaged as long as possible to gather more data about your interests. The more you use TikTok, the more it fine-tunes its understanding of what keeps you scrolling.
The app’s algorithm not only gauges your interest in humor, sports, music, religion, and politics, but it can also sense mood shifts. A Wall Street Journal report highlighted that TikTok’s algorithm primarily focuses on the duration you spend on certain videos, potentially leading you down rabbit holes or exposing you to unmoderated and risky content.
In conclusion, TikTok is part of a broader trend where social media platforms leverage sophisticated algorithms to create the illusion of mind reading. However, it is just one of many apps employing this strategy to captivate and engage users.
How does TikTok reading your mind affect your brain?
TikTok’s recommendation constantly hooks you to it and thus can negatively impact your brain. TikTok is, without a doubt, one of the most popular social media apps available. Unsurprisingly, individuals of all ages use it to absorb content due to its quick and easy style. We already covered how TikTok does not genuinely read your mind, but it is all due to the algorithm.
However, because the system anticipates what we want to see perfectly, it is much more entertaining to call it mind reading than the TikTok algorithm. But what happens to your brain when you use the TikTok algorithm?
When you use TikTok, the app utilizes algorithms to present you with stuff that it believes you will love. This implies that you are continuously being shown tailored content to keep you interested. While there is nothing wrong with a tiny bit of content intake, you should be mindful of the influence it can have on your brain. Constant content intake might lead to information overload. This is when you are overwhelmed with so much information that you cannot digest it all. This can cause anxiety and stress.
Additionally, it may be challenging to concentrate and focus on your duties. It’s crucial to occasionally take a break from using TikTok if you discover that you use it more frequently than you’d like. Take a walk, read a book, or just relax without using your phone.
Your brain will get a chance to relax and recharge as a result. It’s enjoyable and simple to consume material on TikTok. However, it’s critical to understand how it could affect your brain. Always remember to take pauses and only consume the stuff in moderation.
Is there any way to stop TikTok’s algorithm from reading your mind?
We know the idea of TikTok reading your mind can be quite overwhelming thus, we have some ways you can prevent the app from doing so. Users are encouraged by TikTok to provide personal data about themselves, like their location, age, and interests. Users are then shown targeted advertising using this data. However, anyone may access this data, not just advertisers.
The Chinese government has been suspected of receiving user data from TikTok. There are worries that the platform is being exploited to gather private data. These claims have been refuted by TikTok, which asserts that the company takes user privacy and security very seriously.
However, the platform remains unregulated in many countries, so there is no guarantee that your data is secure. If you’re concerned about your privacy, you might want to reconsider using TikTok. Much of the data collecting is required if you want to use TikTok to its full potential, although there are settings that allow you to restrict access and disable tailored adverts. To enable or disable personalized advertisements, go to Me to access your settings.
Then go to Privacy, Security, Personalization, and Data and disable the option. Go to Profile and tap to request your info and see what TikTok knows about you. Navigate to Privacy, Personalization, and Data, and choose Download TikTok Data.
You can make your TikTok account private so that only people you approve can follow you and watch your videos. However, TikTok notes that this impacts functionality: “With a private account, other users will not be able to Duet, Stitch, or save your movies.” In TikTok’s Privacy settings, you can limit the audience for your videos. To make your account private, go to Me, tap Privacy, then Turn Private Account On.
Setting your account to private is an “important first step,” according to Will Richmond-Coggan, technology, and privacy specialist at legal firm Freeths. However, this will only protect you from sharing information with others rather than with TikTok itself.
It’s best not to connect your account to other social profiles, such as Facebook or Google. “Beyond that, the majority of protection will come from the careful configuration of your device’s permissions settings, but these will only ever reduce, rather than eliminate, how much data is shared with TikTok,” Richmond-Coggan explains. If you have an iPhone, you can also limit TikTok’s ability to track your behavior by enabling Apple’s App Tracking Transparency feature.
Specialists recommend utilizing a burner email address with a different name when signing up and a VPN to assist in masking your location. However, sites like TikTok are aggressive in acquiring as much data as possible, so if you’re concerned about your privacy, you might want to reconsider how much you truly need an account.
Conclusion
TikTok’s algorithm excels at analyzing user behavior and curating content that likely appeals to them. This capability effectively answers the often-pondered question of how TikTok seems to read minds. By blending personalization with content curation, TikTok successfully engages users for long periods. While the algorithm could improve by incorporating a wider variety of content, TikTok remains one of the most popular social media platforms among the plethora currently available.
