Anyone else feel TikTok isn’t the same?

Not sure if it’s just me, but TikTok hasn’t been the same since 2019-2023. It’s become a toxic social platform that’s totally unfair to content creators. What made me fall in love with TikTok back then was how the algorithm connected me to users globally my FYP showed videos from people in Asia, all over Europe, Latin America, Australia, etc. Creators from different cultures shared their unique ways of dancing, cooking, and so many interesting things. It felt welcoming and creative.

Now the algorithm only shows content from my country. I suspect this isn’t just a US issue but a ByteDance algorithm change. It’s like I’m trapped in an echo chamber where TikTok dictates my tastes. Meanwhile, YouTube Shorts is the opposite it’s far superior, and I still discover people from all over the world.

I’ve tried resetting TikTok’s algorithm multiple times with no improvement. And surprisingly, even after all these years, TikTok still isn’t properly optimized for PC. It works on desktop, but it’s nowhere near as seamless as YouTube (where you can upload videos, watch long-form content, or stream on TV).

Lately, TikTok feels like it’s turning into Twitter an algorithm fueled by drama and toxicity. Creative creators get buried, while TikTok Shop makes me fear it’ll become another Instagram: just a glorified ad space instead of a platform made by people, for people. If they keep disrespecting users and creators like this, they’re doomed to fail like Vine. What do you all think?