Figured out why my TikTok kept showing me the same pet videos over and over

I spent like 45 minutes trying to change what my For You page shows because it was stuck on golden retriever puppies and cat fails. Turns out the algorithm tracks how long you linger on a video even if you don't like or share it. Has anyone else noticed their feed getting super narrow after watching just one type of content too long?

3 comments

3 Comments

erickelly6d ago

It's like how once you stop at one gas station you keep noticing that same brand everywhere.

elliot_roberts6d ago

yeah that frequency illusion is wild once it kicks in. @erickelly do you find yourself noticing it more with stuff you actually care about or is it random stuff that gets stuck in your head? I swear I see the same model truck everywhere now just because my neighbor bought one last month.

eva_moore6d ago

Actually that gas station comparison is a good one, but it's not quite the same thing. Frequency illusion is specifically about noticing something after it enters your awareness, not just seeing the same brand everywhere. @elliot_roberts you nailed it with the truck example though. I keep seeing that exact same color Subaru Outback my sister drives now. Never noticed them before. It's like your brain suddenly decides something matters so it points it out.