1y ago

The news did it first

49 comments

For people wondering:
On the left you see a format popular on tiktok, where a clip from a videogame, some ice cream video and a Family Guy clip share the screen, playing simultaneously.
On the right you see a news anchor with weather info, a ticker and stock data also sharing the same screen.
The tiktok format is supposedly for low attention span kids which (also supposedly) need three completely disconnected things happening on screen at once in order to not lose interest in the video. The other one is... the news as it is common in the US.
"They are the same": you could say that both of these formats serve the same purpose.
- I knew of the TikTok thing, but not being from the US I had no idea your news broadcasts are so... cramped with information
  
  They're not all like that. Most of the local newscasts show one thing at a time.
  The format pictured is something I've only seen in places like a doctor's waiting room, or at my deranged uncle's house.
  
  You should see the Japanese TV then. It's not only cramped, it's completely different programs at the same time. I don't even know what the reaction clips are reacting to or which is the main program.
  
  Yeah that's not a news broadcast, that's cable TV news
  
  This would only be the 24 hour “news” networks that deliver entertainment and opinion under the guise of factual information. Local newscasts don’t often do this. However there are some ownership groups out there that try to model themselves after the big cable companies.
- Just so you're aware, the TV broadcast is (Canadian) CP24 Toronto, and they have this so that you don't have to wait through commercials and other random news segments to get weather, traffic, headlines and stock tickers. This is a common channel to have on in waiting rooms and the like.
  
  Guess you exposed my european, millenial ass. ¯(ツ)/¯
- Thanks for the explanation. I thought it was six different low res images and no context.
  
  First time on Lemmy?
- i think the phrase for the tiktok format is “content sludge”.
  i saw an interesting video on it a while back: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OuaDbu_VBLY
  id recommend the video to anyone looking for a thoughtful examination of why this format became so popular and widespread.
  
  Here is an alternative Piped link(s):
  https://m.piped.video/watch?v=OuaDbu_VBLY
  Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
  I'm open-source; check me out at GitHub.
- For those who still don't understand:
  On the left side of the image, you will notice a prevalent format that has gained popularity on TikTok. It features a composition where a brief snippet from a video game, a delightful ice cream video, and a scene from the animated television series Family Guy coexist on the same screen, all playing simultaneously.
  Conversely, on the right side of the meme, you'll find a news anchor delivering weather information, a continuous news ticker displaying various updates, and real-time stock market data, all competing for space on the same screen.
  The TikTok format on the left is believed to cater to individuals with relatively shorter attention spans, particularly younger viewers, who supposedly require the simultaneous presence of three entirely unrelated elements on screen to maintain their engagement with the video content. On the other hand, the right-side depiction represents a quintessential depiction of the news presentation format that is commonly seen in the United States.
  The phrase "They are the same" is a humorous commentary on the meme, suggesting that both of these seemingly disparate formats ultimately serve a similar purpose, albeit in very different contexts.
  
  ChatGPT rewrite this already well laid out explanation
- Thanks for that; I'm way too old for TikTok, so had absolutely no idea what I was looking at here.
- Just one format uses spatial multiplexing, while other temporal multiplexing
- i was about to ask what the fuck is happening
  i hope these are just dont know what they are doing, aint no way people on tiktok have that much of a smoothbrain they need 3 videos at the same time
- Damn. I thought it was to get around copyright bots.
- But it’s not tho, the news is cramming as much releavant information as possible on screen, it’s not there to captivate anyone
  
  Why are you telling me?

what..?
- The ultimate shitpost, I guess.
- Boredom buster/subway surfer on the screen while technical explanations are being given and headlines/weather/ads/whatever else being on the screen during the news being the same thing I think?
- It's the same thing
  
  But what thing is it?
  
  I don’t watch the “news” but it is absolutely not the same. All that bullshit is different varying levels of relevant information so you don’t have to sit and wait for commercials and other news segments. It is information at a quick glance whereas TikTok is all about keeping you engaged.
  Yeah they both show more than one topic at a time but that’s where the similarities end. But sure, it’s the sAmE

Eh, but at least the additional content on the news channels could be seen as somewhat useful. There is nothing useful about watching another random clip of Subway Surfers.

FYI this is referred to as Sludge Content. I learned about it from this strangely... hypnotic... video essay

Not untrue, but I think the side on the right is for TV's without sound, like in a subway station and alike.

Yooo they made gooning on the news.

This had to have been made by a child, absolutely not the same

49 comments