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Joanna Stern

17 Dec, 5 tweets, 3 min read

@WSJ

We created more TikTok automated accounts and told the app they were 13.

The algorithm served them tens of thousands of weight-loss videos within a few weeks.

The latest story in our @WSJ TikTok investigation: on.wsj.com/32f0MmI

@WSJ

@WSJ This is our 3️⃣rd piece in this @WSJ TikTok series.

Here’s #1️⃣, a video investigation where we broke down the algorithm and how it drove our bot accounts into rabbit holes of depression. wsj.com/video/series/i…

@WSJ

@WSJ Here’s #2️⃣, an interactive story where we broke down how TikTok can quickly drive minors into endless spools of content about sex and drugs. wsj.com/articles/tikto…

TikTok’s response to all these stories was that our bots “in no way represents the behavior and viewing experience of a real person."

AND YET earlier this week TikTok said it would adjust its algorithm to avoid showing users too much of the same content.

wsj.com/articles/tikto…

"TikTok said on Thursday that it is testing ways to avoid pushing too much content from a certain topic, such as extreme dieting, sadness or breakups, to individual users to protect their mental well-being.” wsj.com/articles/tikto…

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More from @JoannaStern

Joanna Stern

@JoannaStern

8 Sep

@WSJ

We made 31 TikTok accounts registered as teenagers to see what the app shows young users.

Some got an unending reel of videos about sex and drugs.

Our @WSJ investigation is now live:
on.wsj.com/3z0uwhW

@WSJ

@WSJ Some highlights from this:

🔴 TikTok served one account registered as a 13-year-old at least 569 videos about drug use, references to cocaine and meth addiction, and promotional videos for online sales of drug products and paraphernalia.

🔴 TikTok also showed the Journal’s teenage users more than 100 videos from accounts recommending paid pornography sites and sex shops.

Read 6 tweets

Joanna Stern

@JoannaStern

21 Jul

@WSJ

How does TikTok figure you out so well? How does it know that thing you never told anyone?

An insanely powerful algorithm.

We created dozens of automated TikTok accounts that watched thousands of videos to learn more.

Our @WSJ visual investigation: wsj.com/tiktokalgorithm

@rob_barry

Some highlights of what we did and some stuff that I haven’t seen reported before:
🔴 The incomparable @rob_barry + @JohnWest designed a system with dozens of automated TikTok accounts. We gave these 🤖s hidden interests. That is, they rewatched videos with certain #s + images.

🔴 From this we learned, you only need to watch videos for the app to figure you out. You don’t have to give it any other info for it to get at your unspoken desires. You don’t need to like, follow, search. It doesn’t need to track you across the web. It just needs you to watch.

Read 9 tweets

Joanna Stern

@JoannaStern

26 Apr

Step 1: Start downloading iOS 14.5.

Step 2: Watch my exclusive interview with Apple’s Craig Federighi + read my column on all the privacy changes.

Step 3: Tap “Ask App Not to Track” or “Allow” over and over again.

on.wsj.com/3nlKoqS

This column is a result of weeks of testing apps with surprisingly compelling let-us-track-you prompts and talking to lots of people in ad industry

on.wsj.com/3nlKoqS

Whether you decide to let apps track you or not, us now having a choice is what really matters.

Also, in video you’ll find a great explaination from Federighi about why it says “Ask App Not to Track” vs. “Do Not Track”

Read 4 tweets

Joanna Stern

@JoannaStern

1 Feb

iOS 14.5 developer beta is out and it confirms that Apple is as frustrated as all of us about unlocking the iPhone with a mask on.

It includes a new feature: Unlock iPhone with Apple Watch while wearing a mask. If you are wearing a mask and have an unlocked Apple Watch on your wrist, you can unlock FaceID on your iPhone.

Of course this requires you have an Apple Watch.

The best long-term solution? What I wrote about last week and what Apple is working on behind the scenes: an iPhone with a fingerprint sensor in the display. on.wsj.com/3pzdALe

Read 4 tweets