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TikTok is changing social media

Introduction

TikTok's big explosion in the last half decade has been completely predicated on the fact that they realized the social graph, a.k.a. who you follow, is important and was a beacon of the last decade. However, the interest graph—the stuff you're actually into at the moment—is a dramatically bigger platform. That was the thesis that led me to invest in Tumblr 15 years ago, and it had a nice exit to Yahoo. But they've expanded on it dramatically, and now all of the social networks, from Twitter to Meta’s Facebook and Instagram to Snap, will very much chase this because it's just a reality of human behavior.

Keywords

  • TikTok
  • Social Media
  • Social Graph
  • Interest Graph
  • Tumblr
  • Yahoo
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Snap
  • Human Behavior

FAQ

Q: Why has TikTok exploded in popularity in the last half decade?

A: TikTok's growth can be attributed to its focus on the interest graph—what users are actually interested in at the moment—rather than just the social graph of who users follow.

Q: What is the difference between the social graph and the interest graph?

A: The social graph centers on who you follow and your interactions with them, while the interest graph focuses on the content you are currently interested in, regardless of who creates it.

Q: How did the concept of the interest graph influence other social networks?

A: Social networks like Twitter, Meta's Facebook and Instagram, and Snap are now chasing the interest graph concept because it aligns more closely with human behavior.

Q: What prior investment inspired the understanding of the interest graph's importance?

A: The investment in Tumblr 15 years ago was based on a similar understanding of the importance of catering to users' interests, which led to a successful exit to Yahoo.

Q: What is the implication of these shifts for the future of social media?

A: These shifts indicate that social media platforms will increasingly focus on delivering content based on users' current interests, leading to a more personalized and engaging user experience.

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