Algorithmic fun – and how it leads to self-knowledge

Eva Lotta Ingwy Flohrs

Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg

TikTok is often discussed as a waste of time or even a threat to the minds of young people, with the consequence of its inherently fruitful aspects being overlooked. I will argue that much of the fun to be had on TikTok is not only grounded in familiar ideas of enjoyment found in humor, but can also lead users to acquire self-knowledge in a way specific to the medium.
TikTok often seems confusing to those unfamiliar with the Platform, but much of the fun can be explained with a version of the incongruency theory of humor as proposed by Schultze and Suls. Not only will I explain humor on TikTok in terms of the creation and resolution of incongruency but also the enjoyment of intertextuality between TikToks, that is substantial to its enjoyment.  The fast-paced and highly intertextual way of generating and resolving incongruency so typical for the Platform may require knowledge of the trending Formats and Topics, but can be explained as a different way of creating incongruency.
But there is one way of having fun on TikTok specific to the Platform (or similar algorithm-based platforms). It stems from an incongruency created by the violation of expectations we have about our algorithm. Because we believe the algorithm to be shaped by our interaction with it, we expect our For You Page (FYP) to be somewhat reflective of our tastes and interests. When a TikTok comes up, that doesn’t “fit” these expectations, it creates an incongruency. We could resolve it by simply viewing it as an error, however, because we often think of the algorithm as “knowing” us, the violation of these expectations feels more personal. I suggest that the perception of this incongruency motivates users to learn something about themselves, through a second possible resolution: We recognize the TikTok in question as not so “unfitting” after all, but in fact reflective of our own tastes and interests – just in a way we previously didn’t recognize. 

Chair: Lea Spiegl

Time: 05 September, 15:20 – 15:50

Location: SR 1.003