Time to move on from TikTok's Algorithm

With Frequency blockchain at its core, Project Liberty envisions a future where opaque algorithms give way to transparent systems, reshaping the very fabric of social media.

‍

TikTok is a cultural phenomenon. With more than 170 million U.S. users and over a billion globally, it has redefined how we consume content, connect with trends, and interact online. It’s a platform that has entertained, informed, and inspired. But behind the endless stream of viral dances and life hacks lies unsettling reality. 

‍

TikTok’s meteoric rise is powered by a secretive algorithm, a black box designed to maximize engagement at all costs. Every like, pause, and scroll feeds this algorithm, dictating what users see while quietly harvesting their data. For creators, visibility is at the mercy of a system they cannot control. For users, the cost is their privacy. And for society, the implications are far-reaching, with national security and public trust hanging in the balance.

‍

As the U.S. prepares to implement the TikTok law on January 19, scrutiny around the platform has only intensified. Critics warn of potential data-sharing with foreign governments through ByteDance, its Chinese parent company. India has already banned the app outright. And yet, despite the concerns, TikTok’s power and influence remain largely unchecked.

‍

What if there were another way?

‍

The People’s Bid is not just an ambitious plan, it’s a declaration of intent to reimage the internet itself. Backed by $20 billion in expressions of interest, the consortium seeks to acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations, not simply own it, but to reshape it into something better.

‍

At the helm is Project Liberty Founder Frank McCourt, joined by prominent voices like Kevin O’Leary, the celebrated entrepreneur and investor known to millions as Shark Tank’s “Mr. Wonderful.” With over 10 million followers across platforms, including 1.4 million on TikTok, O’Leary grasps the platform’s cultural and economic significance. Earlier this year, he spearheaded a crowdfunding initiative to give individuals and small businesses a stake in TikTok’s future. That effort now aligns with The People’s Bid, amplifying its vision to ensure the platform serves the many, not the few.

‍

The Engine for Change 

‍

At the heart of this vision lies Frequency and the Decentralized Social Networking Protocol (DSNP), the technological backbone of The People’s Internet. Together, these technologies propose an alternative to the algorithm-driven ecosystems that dominate today.

‍

The cornerstone of this transformation is the concept of self sovereign digital identities. Unlike traditional social media accounts tied to specific platforms, these identities are portable, secure, and controlled by the user. Imagine logging into any app without relinquishing your privacy, your data, or your social connections. Frequency’s decentralized data layer ensures that these identities remain independent of any one company’s control, enabling true interoperability and equity.

‍

This isn’t just a technological shift, it’s a philosophical one. Frequency aims to replace the monopolistic grip of centralized platforms with a social media commons where users, not algorithms, dictate the value of their contributions. It’s a model built on transparency, trust, and empowerment.

‍

Creators Over Algorithms

‍

TikTok’s algorithm is both its greatest strength and its biggest flaw. Its uncanny ability to predict what users want to see has fueled the platform’s dominance, making it a cultural force. But this precision comes at a cost: users don’t own their data, their relationships, or their content. Creators have no control over their visibility, and audiences are at the mercy of an algorithm designed to maximize engagement, not fairness or transparency.

‍

This vision demands more than Frequency alone. It requires reimagining TikTok’s playbook at the app layer and leveraging technologies like 3PI, still in development. In this reimagined framework, creators would reclaim direct control over their content, their audiences, and their earnings. Fans could support their favorite creators transparently, fostering a new kind of connection and revenue model that prioritizes relationships over algorithms.

‍

Imagine a musician using a platform powered by DSNP. Instead of being locked into one ecosystem, they could take their audience with them to a new platform or create a space of their own. For small businesses, this vision offers the chance to connect directly with customers without having to pay for visibility dictated by algorithms.

‍

For consumers, this model promises something revolutionary: a more transparent, empowering relationship with creators they love. Apps prioritizing direct support over endless scrolling could foster deeper trust and engagement. But this vision goes beyond TikTok as it is today. The People’s Bid envisions a completely new app, built from its purchased assets and powered by Frequency and DSNP, with the potential to redefine the entire social media landscape.

‍

With over 70% of Americans feeling their personal data is less secure than it was five years ago, Frequency offers a path to a more equitable digital future. Unlike platforms that thrive on data extraction, Frequency prioritizes empowerment and portability, giving creators the tools to take control of their content and connect with audiences across apps without being tied to any single platform. It’s more than just a technological framework; it’s a blueprint for trust, agency, and fairness in an increasingly fragmented digital world.

‍

The Challenges Ahead

‍

Transforming TikTok won’t be easy. Scaling Frequency to meet the needs of TikTok’s massive user base and navigating governance complexities are immense tasks. While platforms and apps remain centralized, Frequency decentralizes the shared data layer, creating a foundation for a global social network. Project Liberty envisions a cooperative model where users, creators, and stakeholders have a voice, choice, and stake in how the network operates. In a digital landscape where control of personal data is often an afterthought, this vision feels not just ambitious but necessary.

‍

Will users embrace a TikTok without its addictive, mysterious algorithm? That remains to be seen. But the People’s Bid is betting that the promise of transparency, empowerment, and a thriving creative economy will resonate in a world where trust in digital platforms is rapidly eroding.

‍

A Future Worth Fighting For

‍

The future of the internet is at a crossroads. Frequency, powered by DSNP, is at the center of one potential outcome, one that challenges the dominance of centralized platforms by giving users and creators the tools to take control of their digital lives. 

‍

This wouldn’t be TikTok as we know it, but a new app built from its purchased assets, reimagined by Project Liberty. TikTok’s massive reach and influence make it the perfect foundation for change. The app has already transformed how we connect online, and under Project Liberty, with Frequency and DSNP at its core, it could become the blueprint for an internet that prioritizes creativity, transparency, and trust. For 170 million Americans, and over a billion users worldwide, that’s a future worth fighting for.