The Chinese variant of TikTok has introduced a dedicated site to elucidate how the application suggests and ‘regulates’ content for its audience.
ByteDance
-owned
Douyin
, the Chinese edition of
TikTok
has shifted focus to tackle the public’s worries regarding the influential recommendation algorithm of the local short video platform.
Recently, Douyin unveiled a dedicated site at 95152.douyin.com, which elucidates the mechanisms behind their content recommendation and moderation processes within the app.
over 600 million daily active users
, months after
internet
Watchdog: The Cyberspace Administration of China initiated a crackdown to
tackle the inappropriate use of algorithms by local online platforms
.
As stated on the website, algorithms function primarily as “a mathematical modeling process” aimed at establishing “relationships between user behavior and content characteristics,” not necessarily comprehending the content itself.
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The statement indicated that algorithms monitor user behavior such as likes, follows, shares, and the duration for which videos are watched to forecast their preferences.
The website additionally highlighted that the
app
It does not spy on its users. However, it admitted that occasionally, users might get the impression of being watched—for instance, after searching for something specific like pet food within an application—only to later encounter targeted ads related to their searches when using a different platform.
The content of the dedicated website showcases the initiatives undertaken by Douyin alongside its rivals.
Kuaishou Technology
and
Tencent Holdings
To enhance transparency in online recommendation systems following the government’s efforts to curb the abuse of algorithms utilized by commonly frequented public platforms.
China’s
over 1 billion people online
on average, people spend about 2.5 hours daily viewing short videos, as reported by a government-backed study.
Recommendation algorithms are likewise the most precious resource for platforms similar to Douyin, prompting the Chinese government to prohibit their export. This factor has added complexity and challenges to the potential sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations.
The two-day China Internet Media Forum, which ended on Sunday, saw executives from leading media entities in Mainland China participate.
social-media
platforms — such as Douyin, Tencent’s
WeChat
and
Weibo
– committed to enhancing their algorithms.
The Douyin President, Han Shangyou, stated during an event that the platform’s recommendation algorithm doesn’t rely on the conventional approach of categorizing content or users through labels.
Meanwhile, Tencent Vice-President Chen Yong stated that the short video feature within the mega-app WeChat, referred to as Weixin domestically, encourages positive online viewing practices.
According to Chief Executive Wang Gaofei, Weibo has adjusted its trending list to be more “upbeat.” He mentioned that 96 percent of the trending subjects in the application’s social and news sections during the previous year originated from content produced by local media outlets.
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