TikTok is a popular short-form video sharing app that has over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide. The app’s main feature is the For You Page (FYP), an endless scroll of videos recommended to each user by TikTok’s proprietary algorithm.
The FYP algorithm is designed to provide each user with a personalized stream of engaging videos tailored to their interests and preferences. It works by analyzing a wide range of signals about each user’s activity on the app, including the videos they like, share, comment on, and follow. The goal is to keep users endlessly scrolling and entertained by delivering a never-ending stream of relevant and captivating short videos.
Understanding how the complex FYP algorithm works is key for creators and brands looking to reach a wider audience and go viral on the platform. This article will provide an in-depth look at the factors that influence the TikTok FYP algorithm.
User Signals
User interactions on TikTok provide important signals that influence what content the FYP algorithm delivers to each user. According to an article on Later.com, “When a user likes, shares, comments on or lingers longer watching a video, the FYP considers those signals to show them more of that kind of content.” 1 These user engagement metrics indicate what types of videos users prefer and allow TikTok to refine recommendations.
In addition to interactions, a user’s account settings, search history, and watch history give the FYP algorithm data to tailor the feed. Settings like language, country, and selected interests all help TikTok serve localized, relevant content. 2 According to Wired, “what videos you watch, search for, and interact with helps TikTok identify interests to serve you content you’re more likely to enjoy.” This personalized profile of user behavior continually shapes the FYP over time.
Video Performance
One of the main factors TikTok’s algorithm looks at is how well your video performs after you first post it. According to [Later](https://later.com/blog/tiktok-algorithm/), TikTok pays close attention to metrics like views, likes, comments, shares, completion rates, and whether your video appeals to a wide audience. The more engagement your video gets, the more TikTok will show it to others. Likes, comments, and shares signal to the algorithm that a video is interesting and engaging.
TikTok also looks at completion rates – if people are watching your whole video, it’s a sign of a high-quality, captivating video. Videos that get high completion rates get boosted by the algorithm. On the other hand, if people click away quickly, that’s a sign your video may not be resonating or delivering on its promise.
Appealing to a wide audience also helps with the algorithm. Videos that get engagement across different user demographics and interests tend to do better. This shows the content is relatable and engaging more universally. The algorithm favors videos that have broad appeal.
Creator Accounts
TikTok’s algorithm favors certain creator accounts, especially those that are verified. According to The TikTok Algorithm Explained + Tips to Go Viral, verified accounts have a built-in advantage. The blue checkmark signals authenticity and importance to users. As a result, TikTok’s algorithm tends to show verified accounts more prominently.
The algorithm also favors accounts that post frequently and consistently. As noted in How Does TikTok’s Algorithm Work in 2023?, creators who post multiple times per day in a consistent schedule see their videos promoted more by the FYP algorithm. This increases their overall views and engagement.
Finally, strategic use of hashtags, sounds, and effects can also help get creator videos noticed. Adding relevant trending hashtags and sounds makes it more likely to show up on target user’s For You pages, especially when trends are rising in popularity.
Freshness
TikTok favors new uploads in its FYP algorithm, highlighting fresh content so users see the latest viral videos. As Hootsuite explains, “If you’re one of the first to hop on a new trend, you’re likely to get boosted by the algorithm as TikTok tests the concept out.” However, the app aims to balance brand new uploads with older evergreen videos to keep the For You page dynamic. According to TikTok’s Newsroom, the algorithm mixes in “older content that users may have missed upon initial upload” so classic viral hits resurface alongside the latest trends and challenges.
Location
The TikTok algorithm personalizes content based in part on your location. As explained on TikTok’s support page, “TikTok collects your approximate location information based on your device or network information, such as SIM card and IP address.” This allows TikTok to serve you locally trending topics and content that is popular in your region.
For example, a TikTok creator noticed that when she traveled to different countries, the content she was shown changed based on trending topics and viral videos in each location. As she explains in this video “Is it true that going to a different country can impact your views…”, traveling can expose your account to new audiences and trends.
So the FYP algorithm customizes your feed based on your location settings and where you access TikTok from. This allows the app to highlight locally popular creators, songs, memes, challenges, and topics tailored to your area.
Device and Network
The TikTok algorithm optimizes content differently depending on the user’s device and network connection. According to The TikTok Algorithm Explained, TikTok delivers lower resolution videos to Android devices than iPhones to account for performance differences. Videos are also optimized for the network condition – lower resolution on cellular versus HD on WiFi.
As noted in How to Work With the TikTok Algorithm, the app detects if the user is on WiFi or cellular data. For cellular users, TikTok lowers the video quality to prevent buffering issues. The app aims to provide the smoothest viewing experience based on device and network limitations.
Direct Feedback
Direct feedback provided by users on videos plays an important role in TikTok’s recommendation algorithm. When users actively engage with content by liking, sharing, or commenting on videos, this signals to TikTok that they enjoyed that video and want to see more similar content. According to TikTok, if a user responds favorably to a video by sharing it or watching it multiple times, TikTok will show that video to more users who have similar interests and behavior patterns [1].
On the other hand, users can provide negative direct feedback by pressing “Not Interested” on a video they don’t enjoy. TikTok states this helps the app refine recommendations and show users more relevant content in the future [2]. Following or unfollowing creators is another form of direct feedback that signals interest or disinterest in their content.
Overall, direct forms of feedback like likes, shares, comments, and follows allow TikTok users to directly shape what types of videos they see in their For You Page feed.
Indirect Feedback
TikTok also uses indirect signals and metrics to determine which videos to show users on their For You Page (FYP). These indirect signals allow TikTok to gauge a user’s interest and satisfaction with a video without an explicit action like liking or commenting.
One important indirect signal is scroll depth. If a user watches a video all the way to the end without scrolling away, it’s a good sign they were engaged by the content. TikTok will show that user more videos similar to the ones they watched fully. However, if a user scrolls past a video quickly, TikTok will avoid showing them similar videos in the future.
Another metric TikTok tracks is replays. If a user replays all or part of a video multiple times, it indicates strong interest in the content. TikTok’s algorithm boosts videos that elicit a lot of replays. Videos that users replay to show someone else also get weighted more heavily.
Dwell time, or how long a user lingers on a video before scrolling, is another indicator of engagement. The longer a user dwells on a video, the more likely TikTok will promote that content and related videos to keep them engaged in the app. Short dwell times signal to TikTok that the video did not resonate with that user.
Conclusion
In summary, the key factors that influence TikTok’s For You page algorithm include user signals, video performance, creator accounts, freshness, location, device and network, and direct/indirect feedback. The algorithm aims to provide a customized, engaging feed for each user while also promoting content with general appeal. As TikTok continues to grow, the company is focused on improving personalization while also addressing concerns around filter bubbles and promoting diverse content. Future developments may include more transparency into how recommendations are generated and more user controls over the FYP. While the exact workings of the algorithm remain somewhat mysterious, TikTok’s overarching goal is to understand user interests and serve captivating videos tailored to each person.
