TikTok’s algorithm is infamously addicting. The app picks up on your interests quickly, and before you know it, you’re falling down an hours-deep rabbit hole every time you launch it. But the algorithm doesn’t always get it right: Sometimes, you end up seeing too much of one type of content, no matter how many times you hit “Not Interested.”
With the rise of AI-generated content, this problem only gets more frustrating. AI video generators like Sora are empowering people to produce more hyperrealistic AI slop than ever, which means you’ve likely encountered it on your feeds—whether you know it or not.
I’ve certainly laughed at some AI clips here and there, but for the most part, I can’t stand coming across them in the wild. And they aren’t just a nuisance, they can be legitimately dangerous—some have even tricked users into installing malware on their smartphones. As this content become more normalized, I worry for our collective ability to spot misinformation across our social media platforms, so whenever you can take a step to reducing or removing this content from your feeds, I encourage you to do so.
And as it happens, TikTok is now experimenting with a tool to help you control the AI slop on your For You Page. Per a Wednesday press release, the company says it will roll out the new option in the existing “Manage topics” menu of the app’s settings page. Manage topics already lets you finely tune parts of your individual TikTok algorithm to show you more of one subject or less of another—you can manage things like creative arts, current affairs, dance, fashion and beauty, food and drinks, health and fitness, humor, lifestyle, nature, pets, sports, travel. Soon, the section will add a slider for AI-generated content as well, if the option isn’t live for you already.
What do you think so far?
How to limit AI slop in TikTok
TikTok says this new option is rolling out “in the coming weeks,” which is unfortunately vague. I don’t have the option, even after installing the latest version of TikTok. However, that also means it could hit your app at any time. When it does, here’s how to use it:
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Open TikTok, then tap “Profile” in the bottom right.
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Tap the hamburger menu icon in the top right, then choose “Settings and privacy.”
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Under “Content & Display,” choose “Content preferences,” then choose “Manage topics.”
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When the option is available on your app, adjust the “AI-generated content” slider. Move it left to see less AI-generated content, or move it right to see more of this content.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a way to completely remove AI content from your TikTok feed. Hopefully with this slider in place, however, you’ll greatly reduce the amount of AI content you see, to the point where it’s effectively gone entirely.
