TikTok’s algorithm is highly sensitive – and could send you down a hate-filled rabbit hole before you know it

TikTok’s highly active recommendation system is designed to keep users clicking on videos, even if they contain racist or homophobic content

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TikTok’s algorithm works in mysterious ways, but a Guardian Australia experiment on a blank account shows how quickly a breaking news event can funnel users down a conservative Christian, anti-immigration rabbit hole.

Last week we reported how Facebook and Instagram’s algorithms are luring young men into the Manosphere. This week, we explore what happens when TikTok’s algorithm is unleashed on a blank account in the absence of any interactions such as liking or commenting.

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