Last week, it was announced that Oracle would take over operation of TikTok in the US. One of the primary reasons proposed for this deal is that it was in national interests for us to take over control of TikTok’s fabled “algorithm.” But what is this algorithm? How does it work? To what extent can it be controlled? In today’s episode, Cal looks deeper at the ... Show More
Oct 5
Combating the Whirlwind with a Single Sheet of Paper
One of the more debilitating experiences in our current digital world is the sense of being trapped in relentless, reactive, busyness. This “whirlwind” can separate you from both ambition and presence, leaving you feeling flat and fried. In this episode, Cal discusses a simple tr ... Show More
1h 6m
Sep 2020
Tiktok and 'Seeing Like an Algorithm'
In one of our special "2x" episodes of 16 Minutes (32ish minutes;) -- our show where we quickly cover the headlines and tech trends, offering analysis, frameworks, explainers, and more -- we cover the algorithm that powers TikTok, the short video-sharing platform that grabbed mas ... Show More
37m 30s
Jul 2022
Tiktok's Algorithm and Creativity Network Effects
<p>What does the success of TikTok's algorithmically-driven product tell us about the future of creators and the creator economy, product design, and innovation within video?</p><p>In this cross-over archive episode from our tech news podcast, 16 Minutes on the News, we go deep i ... Show More
38m 28s
Sep 2020
TikTok & Beyond: The Algorithm Question, The Future of Product
<p>With the U.S. tech partnership for TikTok being finalized, what happens if source code is excluded (and more specifically, the For You Page algorithm), given China’s <a href="https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3099446/chinas-revised-tech-export-controls-could-give-beijin ... Show More
37m 30s
Oct 2025
How TikTok’s Algorithm Could Shift with a U.S. Spin-off
TikTok’s algorithm has become a cultural force, shaping what more than a billion users see and share, but its future may be shifting. As the platform prepares for a U.S.-only spin-off, Kelley Cotter, an assistant professor in the department of human-centered computing and social ... Show More
14m 35s