I have no interest in short video platforms.
Short videos give me a sense of low quality. Although they can provide some creativity and entertainment to some extent, most of the time they give the impression of lacking thoughtfulness and seriousness. Compared to long videos, short videos lack completeness and coherence, and cannot reproduce the thinking process and inspiration of the creators.
In terms of media, I prefer text, as it can quickly convey the author's thoughts and intentions. In contrast, video communication is much slower, and if it lacks a real theme and emotional expression, it can be boring and hollow.
Furthermore, if a truly excellent short video appears, it will definitely be shared on other social media platforms, so there is no need to browse short videos like searching for a needle in a haystack.
The concept of information cocoon (known as filter bubble in English) has made me aware of its deep-level harm. Cocooning exists in any social media platform that uses algorithms to cater to user interests, but TikTok's cocooning brings greater harm.
Imagine being in a concert hall, where there are two roles: performers and audience. Performers usually have a certain level of skill, while those without skills feel embarrassed or simply cannot perform, so they can only be part of the audience. Each performer plays their own music, but because the sound resonates throughout the entire concert hall, they can also hear each other's music. Therefore, the music played by the performers may become popular but homogeneous. However, as long as someone explores the boundaries of music and creates unique and innovative music styles, the average level of performers usually progresses.
Now, imagine if all the audience members also become performers: the average skill level of performers would decrease, and the concert hall would become chaotic. Ordinary people usually do not have a higher artistic appreciation ability than artists. If a low-quality, vulgar music style begins to spread like a virus, real performers will not be able to tolerate it and choose to leave, leaving behind a group of homogeneous individuals with mediocre artistic styles and similar thoughts. This group will find it difficult to make truly valuable contributions to culture.
The censorship mechanism makes the situation worse. The censors themselves lack sufficient cultivation, so they eliminate those who do not conform to their preferences, especially minorities in terms of ideas. In addition, state media intervenes and presents itself as an absolute authority, but the ideas it spreads are not conducive to cultural and social development, but simply serve the cold and rigid rule of the state machinery. Its existence directly leads to the assimilation of the entire user community, turning them into obedient slaves in terms of thinking.
As individuals, although our power may be small, it does not mean that things cannot change. We assume that readers are more eager to see social and cultural prosperity, and the improvement of social systems. If you agree with the statement "truth lies in the hands of a few," then you should pay attention to the voices of those who differ from mainstream views, minority groups, and explorers on the fringes of civilization. At the same time, appreciate those who think differently and reject those who lack critical thinking and blindly follow the crowd. Maintain your unique thoughts and do not be bound by monopolistic ideologies from this world.