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The For You Page (FYP) is a user-curated algorithm created by the social media platform TikTok. It uses content-specific algorithms to create a highly personalized experience for each user. It uses engagement metrics like likes, shares and comments and calculates watch time to curate a specific genre of recommended content for users.

Background
Before its acquisition in 2017, TikTok operated under the name Musical.ly. Although its function was almost identical to its current predecessor, the home page did not have a specific name, and the app focuses more on spotlighting its creators, then known as "musers." However, after its accumulation by the Chinese company ByteDance in 2017, TikTok adopted the model of its sister company Douyin. Since then, it has become one of the top downloaded apps of all time, reaching approximately 300 million downloads in 2020.

Typically, a user's For You Page is generated by a content-based algorithm that curates suggested content based on previous and current video content interactions, including watch time, liking, commenting, and sharing. The recommendation algorithm then records these responses and uses these results to suggest videos based on users' apparent tastes by continuously learning their preferences for video material.

ByteDance, which owns TikTok, applies a natural language process to identify textual and auditory elements in its videos and computer vision technology to automatically find and classify visual objects.

It integrates these elements with user-generated video content, previously viewed videos, and other specialized areas of the users' interests. The final suggestions are generated for personalization using collaborative filtering and content-based recommendation techniques.

Douyin
In China, TikTok operates under the name Douyin, which literally translates to "shaking sound." The app was launched in 2016 and currently has over 500 million users. Unlike its predecessor, the app only operates in China and is, therefore, run under the laws of the Chinese government with heavy restrictions. For instance, users under the age of 14 are limited to 40 minutes of daily app use, can only view child-safe content, and are unable to use the app after 10 p.m.

Because the app operates with such heavy restrictions, its algorithm uses a more rigid structure by regulating cultural output through platforms like the terms and conditions, content moderation, and developmental guidelines. Douyin also relies on a mix of human moderators and moderation algorithms to moderate its users' content, which also exists on TikTok despite the platform not requiring as much monitoring.

Operational Framework
Despite being the same app, Douyin and TikTok have widely different regulations regarding their operating systems. These differences change how the apps curate a for you page for the user. Due to heavy censorship in China, Douyin uses a tactic known as algorithmic manipulation, which refers to specifically organized actions that attempt to trick the recommended algorithms for specific purposes, like manipulating users' For You Page to view a specific, pre-approved content style.

This action symbolizes a framework governing digital infrastructures that regulate online media environments and directly contrasts democratic nations, where media content is typically rated and classified rather than heavily restricted. These are the areas in which TikTok functions with their typical content-based algorithm without limiting the capacity to which the combined power of platforms, both in terms of their algorithmic ability to control content creation and to situations in which it is subject to political governance like with Douyin.

Content Regulation
Because Douyin and TikTok operate with relatively diverse legal regulations, ByteDance benefits from significant user data repositories from both platform ecosystems as a tool for informing local policies. For instance, a specific viral video on Douyin may occasionally be selected to move on to TikTok, given that the video fit is considered appropriate and meets local laws.

Additionally, user preferences and style variations can cause a video to trend on TikTok, yet it receives little attention on Douyin. Content can be transferred from TikTok to Douyin. However, its final product will be heavily censored. Moving content from Douyin to TikTok is much faster due to the content already adhering to strict regulatory guidelines.

Content Moderation
TikTok and Doyuin have varying methods for content moderation. A 2021 study by Kaye, Chen, & Zeng (2021) found many differences in what each app allows users to report on. Those using TikTok had a choice of reporting material containing graphic imagery, including spam, hate speech, terrorism, promotion of drugs or weapons, harassment, bullying, self-harm, pornography, violence, and copyright infringement.

Meanwhile, Douyin provides users with a wide variety of content that can be reported, with more specific categories such as political insensitivity, unlawful activity, advertising counterfeit products, spreading rumours, or depicting offensive material. The app also provides a particular section for monitoring content aimed at minors, where users can report content promoting discomfort, self-harm, and luring minors to engage with likes, comments and shares.

These extensive options are offered exclusively on Douyin because the internal platform governance systems require a data-driven program to help enforce such rigid regulations. However, it is also important to note that the study found that reporting content on both platforms was challenging and that in both instances, users were required to select the share button, which generates clicks and records interactive engagement information