TikTok preparing a US copy of the app’s core algorithm Pros 2024

May 30 (Reuters) – TikTok is working on a clone of its recommendation algorithm for its 170 million U.S. users that may result in a version that operates independently of its Chinese parent and be more palatable to American lawmakers who want to ban it, according to sources with direct knowledge of the efforts.

The work on splitting the source code ordered by TikTok’s Chinese parent ByteDance late last year predated a bill to force a sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations that began gaining steam in Congress this year. The bill was signed into law in April.

he sources, who were granted anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly about the short-form video sharing app, said that once the code is split, it could lay the groundwork for a divestiture of the U.S. assets, although there are no current plans to do so.

declined to comment. The company has previously said it had no plans to sell the U.S. assets and such a move would be impossible.

TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance sued in U.S. federal court in May, seeking to block the law forcing a sale or ban of the app by Jan. 19. A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday set a fast-track schedule to consider the legal challenges to the new law.

MILLIONS OF LINES OF CODE

In the past few months, hundreds of ByteDance and TikTok engineers in both the U.S. and China were ordered to begin separating millions of lines of code, sifting through the company’s algorithm that pairs users with videos to their liking. The engineers’ mission is to create a separate code base that is independent of systems used by ByteDance’s Chinese version of TikTok, Douyin, while eliminating any information linking to Chinese users, two sources with direct knowledge of the project told Reuters.

The previously unreported plan provides a rare look into what a technical separation of TikTok’s U.S. operations could be like, and shows to what lengths TikTok will go to address the bipartisan political risk it faces. U.S. President Biden and other supporters of the law argue TikTok gives Beijing far too much access to reams of data, information that could be used to spy on or influence TikTok’s U.S. users.

Reuters previously reported that a sale of the app with algorithms is highly unlikely. The Chinese government in 2020 added content recommendation algorithms to its export-control list, requiring a divestiture or sale of TikTok’s algorithm to go through its administrative licensing procedures.

The source code for recommendation engine was originally developed by ByteDance engineers in China, and customized for operations in various global markets, including the U.S., according to a legal filing.

ByteDance has attributed TikTok’s popularity to the effectiveness of its recommendation engine, which bases each user’s content feeds on how they interact with the content they watch.

‘OPEN SOURCE’

The complexity of the task that the sources described to Reuters as tedious “dirty work” underscores the difficulty of splitting the underlying code that binds TikTok’s U.S. operations to its Chinese parent. The work is expected to take over a year to complete, these sources said.

TikTok and ByteDance have vowed to battle the U.S. law in court on First Amendment grounds. Nevertheless, engineers continue to operate under orders to disentangle TikTok’s U.S. recommendation engine from ByteDance’s broader network, the sources said.

An earlier plan to silo off U.S. user data, called Project Texas, failed to appease U.S. regulators and lawmakers. Now the company is seeking to escalate its efforts to show its U.S. operations are independent of its Chinese owner.

At one point, executives considered open sourcing some of TikTok’s algorithm, or making it available to others to access and modify, to demonstrate technological transparency, the sources said.

Executives have communicated plans and provided updates on the code-splitting project during a team all-hands, in internal planning documents and on its internal communications system, called Lark, according to one of the sources who attended the meeting and another source who has viewed the messages.

Reuters could not independently verify internal messages.

Compliance and legal issues involved with determining what parts of the code can be carried over to TikTok are complicating the work, according to one source. Each line of code has to be reviewed to determine if it can go into the separate code base, the sources added.

The goal is to create a new source code repository for a recommendation algorithm serving only TikTok U.S. Once completed, TikTok U.S. will run and maintain its recommendation algorithm independent of TikTok apps in other regions and its Chinese version Douyin. That move would cut it off from the massive engineering development power of its parent company in Beijing, the sources said.

If TikTok completes the work to split the recommendation engine from its Chinese counterpart, management is aware of the risk that TikTok U.S. may not be able to deliver the same level of performance as the existing because it is heavily reliant on ByteDance’s engineers in China to update and maintain the code base to maximize user engagement, sources added.

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What is TikTok ?

TikTok is a popular social media app known for short-form videos . Here’s a breakdown of what it offers:

• Short Videos: The core of TikTok is creating and sharing short videos, typically ranging from a few seconds to 10 minutes (previously 60 seconds).
• Creative Content: Users can create videos on various topics, including lip-syncing to trending songs, dancing, comedy skits, educational content, and more.
• Discovery and Trends: The app uses algorithms to personalize your feed, suggesting videos likely to interest you based on your watch history and likes. This can lead to discovery of new trends and challenges that go viral on the platform.
• Music and Sound Effects: Music and sound effects play a major role in TikTok videos, with users incorporating popular songs, soundbites, and even creating their own sounds that can become trends.
• Engagement Features: Like other social media platforms, TikTok allows users to like, comment, and share videos. It also has features for following creators, live streaming, and creating duets or stitch videos with others.

Here’s a quick comparison to other social media platforms:

• Similar to: Like Instagram or YouTube, offers a platform for creative expression and content discovery.
• Unique Features: The focus on short-form videos and the use of music and sound effects set TikTok apart.

TikTok has become a global phenomenon, especially popular among younger demographics. It’s known for its addictive nature, driven by the constant stream of short, engaging content and the discovery of new trends.

How Does TikTok Work ?

TikTok thrives on short, engaging videos and a powerful recommendation system, personalizing the experience for each user. Here’s a breakdown of how it works:

Creating and Uploading Videos:

1. Recording: Users can film videos directly within the app or upload pre-recorded videos.
2. Editing Tools: TikTok offers a suite of editing tools to enhance videos with filters, effects, text overlays, music, and sound effects.
3. Posting: Once edited, users can add captions, hashtags, and choose who can see their video (public or private).

Discovering and Watching Videos:

1. For You Page (FYP): This is the main feed where TikTok curates videos based on your watch history, likes, and other factors. It aims to show you content you’ll enjoy, even from creators you don’t follow.
2. Following Feed: See videos from creators you’ve chosen to follow.
3. Trending Hashtags: Explore trending hashtags to discover popular challenges, dances, or video styles.

Engagement and Community:

• Like, Comment, Share: Interact with videos you enjoy by liking, commenting, or sharing them with friends.
• Duets and Stitches: Unique features allow creating response videos (“duets”) or incorporating parts of another video into yours (“stitches”).
• Live Streaming: Creators can go live and interact with viewers in real-time.

The Algorithm Behind the FYP:

• TikTok’s algorithm plays a crucial role. It considers various factors to personalize your FYP, including:
  • Your watch history: Videos you watch for longer and interact with more heavily influence what you see next.
  • Likes and comments: Videos you like and comment on signal your preferences to the algorithm.
  • Content and sound: The type of content (e.g., comedy, music) and sounds used in videos you engage with are factored in.
  • Device and location: While less emphasized, your device type and location might influence recommendations to some extent.

Overall, TikTok’s combination of user-generated content, creative tools, and a powerful recommendation system creates a personalized and engaging experience that keeps users hooked on discovering new trends and creators.

TikTok’s User Experience?

TikTok’s user experience is designed to be addictive and keep you scrolling for hours. Here’s a breakdown of the key aspects:

Simple and Intuitive:

• Straightforward Interface: The app is clean and easy to navigate, with clear buttons for recording, editing, and browsing content.
• Focus on Videos: Content is front and center, with videos automatically playing as you scroll. No need to click on individual videos.
• Quick and Easy Creation: Creating videos is streamlined. Tools are easily accessible, and editing features are intuitive, even for beginners.

Highly Engaging:

• Endless Stream of Content: The personalized FYP ensures a constant flow of fresh, engaging videos tailored to your interests.
• Short-Form Videos: The bite-sized format keeps you hooked, allowing you to consume a lot of content in a short time.
• Discovery and Trends: New trends, challenges, and sounds emerge constantly, keeping the experience dynamic and exciting.

Community and Interaction:

• Like, Comment, Share: Simple features for interacting with content and creators foster a sense of community.
• Duets and Stitches: These unique features encourage creative responses and collaboration among users.
• Live Streaming: Live streams offer a more personal connection between creators and viewers.

Potential Drawbacks:

• Highly Addictive: The constant stream of engaging content and the “dopamine hits” from likes and comments can be highly addictive, leading to excessive screen time.
• Curated Reality: The algorithm can create echo chambers, where you mainly see content that reinforces your existing views.
• Potential for Negative Content: Like any social media platform, there’s always a risk of encountering negative or inappropriate content.

Overall, TikTok’s user experience excels at being user-friendly, engaging, and fostering a sense of community. However, it’s important to be aware of its potential downsides and practice healthy social media habits.

Who Are the Founders of TikTok’s 

TikTok wasn’t founded by a single person, but rather by a Chinese internet entrepreneur named Zhang Yiming. Here’s a deeper look at his role:

• Founder of ByteDance: In 2012, Zhang Yiming founded ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. ByteDance started with a news aggregator app called Toutiao and later ventured into short-form video sharing.
• Douyin (predecessor): In 2016, ByteDance launched Douyin, a short-form video app that gained immense popularity in China. Douyin is the Chinese version of TikTok, with some feature variations.
• Global Expansion: Recognizing Douyin’s potential, ByteDance launched TikTok internationally in 2017. TikTok’s user base exploded globally, making it a worldwide phenomenon.

So, while Zhang Yiming isn’t the sole founder of TikTok itself, he’s the founder of Byte Dance, the company that created and propels TikTok’s success.

User TikTok’s  Experience?

TikTok’s user experience is a double-edged sword, designed to be incredibly engaging but also potentially time-consuming. Here’s a breakdown of both the positive and negative aspects:

Positive Aspects:

• Simple and Intuitive: The app is clean and easy to use, with clear functions for recording, editing, and browsing content.
• Focus on Videos: Content is king on TikTok, with videos automatically playing as you scroll. No need to click on individual videos for playback.
• Quick and Easy Creation: Creating videos on TikTok is streamlined. Tools are easy to find, and editing features are intuitive, making it accessible even for beginners.
• Highly Engaging:
  • Endless Stream of Content: The personalized “For You” page (FYP) curates a constant flow of fresh, engaging videos tailored to your interests.
  • Short-Form Videos: The bite-sized format keeps users hooked, allowing them to consume a lot of content in a short amount of time.
  • Discovery and Trends: New trends, challenges, and sounds emerge constantly, keeping the experience dynamic and exciting.
• Community and Interaction:
  • Like, Comment, Share: Simple features for interacting with content and creators foster a sense of community.
  • Duets and Stitches: These unique features encourage creative responses and collaboration among users, adding another layer of engagement.
  • Live Streaming: Live streams offer a more personal connection between creators and viewers, fostering a sense of community.

Negative Aspects:

• Highly Addictive: The constant stream of engaging content and the “dopamine hits” from likes and comments can be highly addictive, leading to excessive screen time.
• Curated Reality: The algorithm can create echo chambers, where you mainly see content that reinforces your existing views. This can limit your exposure to diverse perspectives.
• Potential for Negative Content: Like any social media platform, there’s always a risk of encountering negative or inappropriate content, depending on the algorithm and your browsing habits.

Overall, TikTok’s user experience excels at being user-friendly, engaging, and fostering a sense of community. However, it’s important to be aware of its potential downsides and practice healthy social media habits to avoid getting sucked into a time warp.

Here are some additional tips for a positive TikTok user experience:

• Set time limits: Decide on a healthy amount of time to spend on TikTok and stick to it.
• Curate your feed: Follow creators you enjoy and use the “not interested” button to minimize unwanted content.
• Take breaks: Step away from the app periodically to avoid getting overwhelmed.
• Be mindful of the algorithm: Don’t get caught in an echo chamber. Explore diverse content and challenge your own views.

By being mindful and strategic, you can leverage TikTok’s positive aspects for entertainment and community while minimizing the potential downsides.