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How TikTok’s Algorithm Could Shift with a U.S. Spin-off

How TikTok’s Algorithm Could Shift with a U.S. Spin-off

60-Second Science vor 11 Monaten

TikTok’s U.S. spin-off could reshape its algorithm and the way culture is curated online.

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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 informatics at Pennsylvania State University,
joins Science Quickly to explore how changes in ownership could
affect the algorithm’s influence and transparency and the kinds of
content we consume. Recommended Reading “TikTok Sale Puts App’s
Algorithm in the Spotlight—A Social Media Expert Explains How the
For You Page Works and What Changes Are in Store,” by Kelley
Cotter, in the Conversation. Published online September 22, 2025
E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions,
comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something
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Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced
by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi and Jeff DelViscio. This episode
was edited by Alex Sugiura. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck
fact-check the show. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.
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