What Makes TikTok Tic? A Comparative Study of Social Interaction Models Across Platforms

This project will investigate the impact of TikTok’s emergence as a platform characterized by de-contextualized, algorithm-driven content. Understanding the distinctions between TikTok’s design principles and those of other platforms is essential for comprehending their influence on user interactions, from constructive engagement to polarization. The research will employ agent-based models of opinion dynamics, calibrated using data from platforms like Twitter, Reddit, and TikTok, leveraging advances in optimization techniques. It will also utilize language models for precise multi-target opinion prediction. The project aims to create a robust simulation environment, offering insights into social behavior and serving as a testing ground for constructive platform interventions, ultimately enhancing our understanding of digital interaction dynamics and fostering healthier online communities. This will help both institutions understand how social platforms shape our social behaviour, and help to improve public policy for digital communications.

Faculty Supervisor:

Derek Ruths

Student:

Partner:

Technical University of Munich

Discipline:

Computer science

Sector:

Artificial Intelligence; New and Digital Media; Public Service, Policy, and Governance

University:

McGill University

Program: