Newsites loves fearmongering. It gets traffic -> revenue. This past month, I've been keenly aware of the case of The United States vs TikTok.

Music.ly

I remember the original version of TikTok. Before it was renamed.

If you know me, you know why I was following. I moonlight as a neo-classical music composer. Check out: @edwingraymusic

I've some thoughts about business school that I'll save for another post. But that's my clear and open bias. I'm not a business guy.

I live for art.

And so I saw Music.ly as wholesome. Honest. Better than watching NBC's The Voice with Gwen Stefani.

Then came TikTok

I didn't wince.

Just a few years before, in the mid 2010's, the 7-second short-form video app Vine was doing the same thing.

One of the immedate differences that comes to mind is the data.

What do I mean about "The Data"

It's a broad term.

Just like its sister-buzzword, "Artificial Intelligence", Data is difficult to define.

The difference between Vine and TikTok is it's algorithm. An algorithm based on data collected from a user's habits. It's a beautiful design. Why wouldn't you want to watch more of the stuff you seem to be interested in? Why wouldn't you want to see less more people you know? More balanced than the aging Facebook/Meta/Instagram properties. Vine died. While TikTok saw unprecendented growth.

NodeWeaver Takes Over

Take it from here. I'm tired, but enjoyed this read:

From Musical.ly to TikTok: A Deep Dive into Data and User Engagement

Why Was Musical.ly Rebranded to TikTok?

Music.ly
I remember the original version of TikTok. Before it was renamed. The old name was "Musical.ly." If you know me, you know why I was following. I moonlight as a neo-classical music composer. Check out: @mytiktokhandle. I've some thoughts about business school that I'll save for another post. But that's my clear and open bias. I'm not a business guy. I live for art. And so I saw Musical.ly as wholesome. Honest. Better than watching NBC's The Voice with Gwen Stefani. Then came TikTok. I didn't wince.

What Changed With TikTok Compared to Vine?

Just a few years before, in the mid 2010's, the 7-second short-form video app Vine was doing the same thing. One of the immediate differences that comes to mind is the data.

What Do We Mean By "The Data"?

It's a broad term. Just like its sister-buzzword, "Artificial Intelligence", Data is difficult to define. The difference between Vine and TikTok is its algorithm. An algorithm based on data collected from a user's habits. It's a beautiful design. Why wouldn't you want to watch more of the stuff you seem to be interested in? Why wouldn't you want to see less of people you know? More balanced than the aging Facebook/Meta/Instagram properties. Vine died. While TikTok saw unprecedented growth.

Why Are Countries Like the United States Critical of TikTok?

Why are countries like the United States critical of this? At the heart of the concern is data privacy and the potential for data misuse. The United States, among other countries, fears that the personal data of its citizens could be accessed and possibly exploited by foreign entities, given TikTok's ties to China through ByteDance. This fear is not unfounded in an era where data is not just information, but a cornerstone of national security, economic strategies, and personal privacy.

How Can Graph Data Science Address These Concerns?

Here is where the relevance of graph data science becomes pronounced. The algorithm TikTok uses is essentially a complex web of user interactions, preferences, and behaviors—elements perfectly suited for analysis via graph databases and graph data science. This technology can map out intricate relationships and patterns that might not be visible with traditional data analysis tools.

Graph data science could also be employed to address concerns about data privacy and security. By analyzing how data flows through networks, it's possible to identify unusual patterns or breaches in real-time, which could make platforms like TikTok safer and more transparent. Moreover, graph databases could enhance the efficiency of data handling, ensuring that user data is not only secure but used in compliance with international standards and regulations.

What Opportunities Does This Technology Present for Social Media Platforms?

The opportunity here, especially for fields related to graph data science like those explored by NodeWeaver, is immense. Not only can this technology help safeguard user data, but it can also be used to refine the algorithms platforms like TikTok use, making them more effective and user-centric. For instance, enhancing recommendation engines to reflect not just user preferences but also ethical and cultural considerations could be a game changer in how social media platforms operate.

To sum up, while the transformation from Musical.ly to TikTok highlights a shift in digital entertainment's business and cultural landscapes, it also underscores the pivotal role of advanced data technologies. As a neo-classical music composer and an observer of social trends, you might find that the evolution of these platforms isn't just about content but about mastering the underlying currents of data and connectivity. Understanding this can give anyone, business-oriented or not, a powerful perspective on the digital world.