Last week, it was announced that Oracle would take over operation of TikTok in the US. One of the primary reasons proposed for this deal is that it was in national interests for us to take over control of TikTok’s fabled “algorithm.” But what is this algorithm? How does it work? To what extent can it be controlled? In today’s episode, Cal looks deeper at these questions and arrives at a broader philosophical point about the role these services, in general, should play in our civic culture. He then answers listener questions on the same topic and reacts to the three recent news articles about TikTok’s influence on our culture.
Download my FREE Deep Life Guide HERE: https://bit.ly/3QBIcug
Link to submit questions: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo
Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia
Sign up for Cal’s email newsletter here: https://calnewport.com/ideas
Below are the questions covered in today’s episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.
DEEP DIVE:
– Decoding TikTok’s Algorithm [0:40]
QUESTIONS:
– Should I quit social media even if I don’t live on the slope of terribleness? [44:41]
– Is it bad to use TikTok to keep up with the news? [54:05]
– How does quantum computing relate to AI? [54:11]
CASE STUDY:
– Trying to become a great composer [1:02:57]
CALL:
– Tips for dealing with growing kids [1:09:28]
CAL REACTS:
– Three Articles about TikTok (and Three Sighs of Exasperation) [1:18:27]
YOUTUBE TITLE
– How Does TikTok Actually Work? (It’s Scary…)
LINKS:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow
Order a signed copy of “Slow Productivity” here: https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/tiktok-surfing-challenge-manslaughter-b2832760.html
https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/article/why-people-on-tiktok-think-the-rapture-is-coming-and-that-the-world-is-ending-this-week-202334215.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gj5lqq52lo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7Df9yGofLo
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xWIVA0ZJm-w
Thanks to our Sponsors:
https://www.monarchmoney.com (Use code “DEEP”)
https://www.reclaim.ai/cal
https://www.wayfair.com
https://www.makeheadway.com/deep
Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for episode music, and Mark Miles for mastering.
