Sure, but that's not the part that matters. The innovative part is the recommendation algorithm that redefined what it means to "optimize for engagement".

I mean, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram are trying to hook you up on a dopamine drip so they can force-feed you some ads. TikTok is just pure crack that caught the world by surprise - and it's not even pushing you ads! Honestly, to this day I'm not sure what their business model is.

On paper they are similar. However, when it comes to recsys competence, TikTok blows other platforms - past or present - out of the water. TikTok's feed is algorithmic crack, and is shockingly quick to figure out users tastes. Instagram and YouTube had to scramble to copy ByteDance's innovation.

And there were smart phones before Apple but they got the formula right