I think they use the SIM card country ID and also the ad audience categories to suggest content.
For example swapping the SIM card with a fresh installation of TikTok shows different "local" videos. Even if the public IP address is unchanged like when using WiFi instead of Data.
I've also think they use ad categories to suggest videos. Using a fresh TikTok installation and then spending some time navigating a subreddit of a topic, would likely show videos of that topic the next time you open TikTok.
How could they tell you were on that subreddit? Presumably you were doing it from a separate browser on the phone -- can they really snoop on behavior in completely separate apps?
Indeed they shouldn't be able to know that without deliberately bypassing the phone's security features using vulnerabilities. Maybe confirmation bias is at play here?
> How could they tell you were on that subreddit? Presumably you were doing it from a separate browser on the phone -- can they really snoop on behavior in completely separate apps?
The subreddit was opened in an incognito window, and the native app on the same phone.
For example swapping the SIM card with a fresh installation of TikTok shows different "local" videos. Even if the public IP address is unchanged like when using WiFi instead of Data.
I've also think they use ad categories to suggest videos. Using a fresh TikTok installation and then spending some time navigating a subreddit of a topic, would likely show videos of that topic the next time you open TikTok.