Navneet Singh

991760771

Discussion 3

When I downloaded TikTok for the first time, I thought I was going to spend a few hours watching funny videos and participating in dance challenges. I didn't think that an app would change my career aspirations. The very incident was completely triggered by the algorithm of TikTok, and no other platform or tool had been able to change my course until then.

It all started with a video on "sustainable fashion." I had always known of sustainability, but wasn't passionate about it, that was until TikTok's algorithm began showing me videos on the environmental impact of fast fashion. As I continued to watch more and more, the algorithm started to adapt, bringing in clips of small sustainable businesses, profiles of eco-friendly designers, and even influencers thrifting and upcycling clothing. Within weeks, I was transformed from a passively watching user to not being able to ignore the urgency of sustainable practices. TikTok's algorithm brought me into an entirely new world (tiktok, 2024).

One night, I was scrolling through my feed when I saw a video discussing career options in sustainable fashion and eco-conscious businesses. What also really impressed me was seeing people quitting corporate jobs for sustainable brands or even start their own eco-friendly ventures. It made me particularly interested in joining a business role at a tech firm until I watched this video. Afterwards, I actually reflected really deeply on exactly how to align my career with what I now began believing.

It was of huge impact. One video on TikTok led to hours of research on sustainable business models and conversations with mentors about the probability of joining such companies. One month later, I started filtering attention from mainstream tech companies toward sustainable business approach companies. That realization was: I understood it was not just that its algorithm introduced me to different content but led me down an avenue where my self-values aligned with professional passions, motivating me to rearrange the shape of what I desired for my profession (Influencer Marketing Hub, 2024).

Another issue that is associated with the functionality of the algorithm is its ability to produce "echo chambers" in which the users only view one point of view. Researchers further showed that this personalization can lead to narrowminded thinking or even fortify some biases because people are fed things that fit their current beliefs ([Course Source 4]). Of course, in my specific case, the algorithm taught me things I had never thought about before, showing the positive effect

(Gerasimou & Limniotis, 2024).

Reflecting on the experience, I could come to the realization that TikTok was more than just distraction; it shaped my mindset regarding the professional world and became an educational tool. Social media, much of which has been heavily criticized for encouraging superficiality, proved to me to be a source of very useful information and even, in some extent, an aid in personal growth as long as it is presented wisely. I learned that technology is only as influential as the intent with which we use it. That algorithm could've easily feed me endless videos without depth, opening a door for a potential career in a field I now deeply care about.

In conclusion, the algorithms of TikTok brought a moment of personal discovery shifting my journey toward a future in a sustainable business. As content on TikTok became geared toward my growing interests, it became a catalyst within my personal and professional journey. 

References

Gerasimou, S., & Limniotis, K. (2024). A study on privacy and security aspects of personalised apps. International Journal of Information Security, 23(5), 3217-3239.

Influencer Marketing Hub. (2024, June 24). How does the TikTok algorithm work? Influencer Marketing Hub. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://influencermarketinghub.com/tiktok-algorithm/

TikTok. (2020, June 18). How TikTok recommends videos #ForYou. TikTok. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/how-tiktok-recommends-videos-for-you

TikTok. (2024). About TikTok. TikTok. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://www.tiktok.com/about