Understanding TikTok's Recommendation System

TikTok is a platform that allows users to create, discover, and watch entertaining videos. It prides itself on being a diverse community where creators can freely express themselves. The goal of TikTok is to provide a safe and supportive environment for users to be their authentic selves.

The For You feed on TikTok is a feature that enables users to explore a wide range of ideas, creators, and interests. The recommendation system takes into account various engagement signals such as likes, follows, and videos watched to suggest videos that users might be interested in. This is similar to how streaming services recommend new artists or movies based on users' previous preferences.

To keep the For You feed fresh and avoid repetitive patterns, the recommendation system works to intersperse diverse types of content along with the ones users already enjoy. Users have expressed their appreciation for discovering new creators or interests through recommendations, while still enjoying content that aligns with their preferences.

However, certain types of videos can unintentionally trigger negative experiences for some viewers. For example, someone who has recently gone through a breakup may come across a breakup video, which can be emotionally challenging. TikTok is actively working to address this issue and improve the viewing experience for users.

TikTok recognizes the importance of diversifying recommendations. The recommendation system aims to offer content outside of users' expressed preferences, allowing them to discover new categories of content. For instance, the system avoids recommending consecutive videos from the same creator or with the same sound. This enriches the viewing experience and promotes exposure to a variety of ideas and perspectives.

Efforts are being made to interrupt repetitive patterns and avoid recommending a series of similar content that may be problematic if viewed in clusters. This includes content related to extreme dieting or fitness, sadness, or breakups. TikTok is also working to ensure that the system does not recommend only limited types of content, such as content about loneliness or weight loss, as it may have a negative impact if that becomes the majority of what someone watches.

TikTok is actively engaging with experts in medicine, clinical psychology, and AI ethics, as well as its Content Advisory Council and community, to inform these improvements.

In addition to these system-level changes, TikTok is also empowering users with more choices to customize their experience. For example, a feature is being developed that will allow users to choose words or hashtags associated with content they do not want to see in their For You feed. This gives users more control over the content they are exposed to.

TikTok has implemented safeguards to ensure the safety of its For You feed. Content that violates community guidelines is removed, and certain categories of content that may not be appropriate for a general audience are not recommended. The safety team also reviews videos as they gain popularity to minimize the likelihood of inappropriate content entering the recommended system.

TikTok acknowledges that perfecting these systems and tools will require time and iteration. The company is committed to ensuring a diverse range of recommendations and is dedicated to transparency. Updates on progress and learnings will be shared along the way, including at the global Transparency and Accountability Centers where the mechanics of the recommendation engine are further explored.