We Need To Talk About TikTok...

Summary

In this eye-opening video, a prominent TikTok creator reveals troubling issues with the platform's moderation system, including shadow banning, video removal without notice, and questionable account bans. The creator shares personal experiences, as well as insights from whistleblowers and other top TikTokers, shedding light on the challenges of content creation on the platform. Despite TikTok’s success, many creators are struggling due to low earnings from short-form content and the reliance on flawed AI moderation. The video urges TikTok to address these problems for the platform's future, as creators consider shifting to more sustainable platforms like YouTube.

Takeaways

• 😀 TikTok’s content moderation is flawed, with creators experiencing issues like unjustified bans and shadowbanning.
• 😀 TikTok's algorithm is a ‘black box’, meaning even employees don’t fully understand how it works, which adds to the platform's inconsistency.
• 😀 Some TikTok creators are getting banned or demonetized due to technical issues like connecting to Wi-Fi networks used by other accounts with violations.
• 😀 TikTok's content removal process often lacks transparency, and creators don’t receive clear explanations when their videos are taken down.
• 😀 There's a growing concern about the over-reliance on AI for content moderation, which can lead to mistakes and unfair bans.
• 😀 Despite millions of views, many short-form creators on TikTok make very little money, often less than on YouTube, where long-form content generates better revenue.
• 😀 TikTok’s current creator economy is unsustainable, with many creators feeling like they’re ‘starving artists’ due to low payouts.
• 😀 The platform is facing a ‘talent vacuum’, as successful TikTok creators are leaving for more lucrative opportunities on platforms like YouTube.
• 😀 TikTok's censorship practices are being questioned as potentially illegal under European Union laws, particularly when it comes to shadowbanning and video removal without notice.
• 😀 Despite TikTok’s immense success, it is struggling with creator retention and fair monetization, leading to dissatisfaction among top creators.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the video?

The video discusses the problems content creators face on TikTok, such as arbitrary bans, poor monetization, censorship, and AI-driven moderation issues, which are affecting their ability to thrive on the platform.

How does the speaker describe their experience with TikTok moderation?

The speaker describes having numerous videos removed or shadowbanned without clear reasons. This includes videos being blocked from the recommendation algorithm, making them essentially invisible to the audience.

What significant change has the speaker noticed in TikTok's creator ecosystem?

The speaker notes a decline in the monetization of TikTok videos. Despite having millions of views, the speaker's RPM (revenue per thousand views) dropped drastically, even lower than other platforms like YouTube.

Why is TikTok's use of AI moderation a concern?

AI moderation lacks the nuanced understanding of human context, leading to over-removal of content and unfair penalization of creators. This has been worsened by layoffs of human moderators, relying more heavily on AI.

What impact has the algorithm had on video visibility on TikTok?

The algorithm seems to arbitrarily suppress certain videos, limiting their visibility. Even when a video appears to be successful on the creator's account, it might not be visible to others, leading to a distorted sense of reach.

How does the speaker compare monetization between TikTok and YouTube?

The speaker reveals that monetization on YouTube, even with fewer views, was more profitable than TikTok, where they earned significantly less despite having millions of views. This demonstrates the unsustainable nature of TikTok's monetization for creators.

What issue did creators face with their videos getting removed without explanation?

TikTok removed videos from creators without providing clear explanations or reasons. In many cases, the creators were not notified of why their videos were removed, leading to frustration and confusion.

How does TikTok's moderation system affect news organizations?

The moderation system prevents news organizations from sharing important information. For example, TikTok removed a video about a Dutch government campaign on emergency preparedness, even though it was based on verified government information.

What did the speaker learn about TikTok's internal practices after speaking with a whistleblower?

The whistleblower revealed that TikTok has shifted to relying on automation for content moderation, which has led to increased mistakes. This is partly due to the layoffs of moderators, leaving AI to handle most of the platform's content moderation.

How does TikTok's approach to content removal violate European law?

Under the European Media Freedom Act, platforms like TikTok are required to inform users when a video is being removed and give them an option to appeal. TikTok's practices, including shadowbanning and removing videos without notice, violate these legal requirements.