I also think TikTok has serious risks going forward re Chinese government. Already a lot of grumbling from lawmakers in US about banning it as CCP growing more belligerent in recent years whereas Facebook products aren't at all influenced by it.
Youtube is long addictive videos.
Instagram and facebook is still primarily focused on content from people you know, though they are also trying to copy some of TikTok’s randos content via the Reels feature.
At the end of the day they just want to get attention by giving content, whether using friends or essentially crowdsourcing.
I prefer Netflix, because I’m paying them and they are not just manipulating me to show ads.
The Three Trends:
1. Medium: text -> images -> video -> 3D graphics -> VR
2. AI: time -> rank -> recommend -> generate
3. UI: click -> scroll -> tap -> swipe -> autoplay
TikTok is at the video/recommend/swipe stage.
Yeah, that sounds like it would become popular very quickly.
I predict the next advancement will be pure AI generated content, just a continuous adversarial attack on the human brain programmed to maximize viewing time for each individual. This could be packaged as things like virtual friends (Replika) or games with constantly evolving game play punctuated with ads or even as something that looks like TikTok.
Pure refined 200 proof addictive emptiness is the logical apex of “free” mass media. We will look back on TV and early generation social media as high culture compared to what’s coming.
Eventually AI was developed to automate addictive content which is just a more generalized solution yo what FB was doing.
Sorry to break it to you but Netflix is absolutely manipulating their audience in trying to convince everyone to watch Netflix productions.
When Netflix came into the market they had a unique platform and were burning money to get good content in. Now studios realized there is money in streaming and are squeezing Netflix prices.
Making their own productions means it is all vertical for them, less risk and more profitable.
By the end of it you're stuck watching something, just not exactly what you wanted in the first place.