While this is from ByteDance, who also are behind TikTok, this algorithm is likely not the one behind TikTok.
Instead, it is likely a component that powers ByteDance's commercial recommender system solution, which they market to e-commerce companies: https://www.byteplus.com/en/product/recommend
This was mentioned in past discussions of the paper on HN.
And even if aspects of this are used for TikTok:
(a) it would be just one of many components of their recommendation system, and
(b) the TikTok recommendation system has changed a lot during the 2+ years since this has been published.
So take what you see here with a grain of salt. After reading the paper and the code, you will NOT know how TikTok's recommendations work.
Instead, it is likely a component that powers ByteDance's commercial recommender system solution, which they market to e-commerce companies: https://www.byteplus.com/en/product/recommend
This was mentioned in past discussions of the paper on HN.
And even if aspects of this are used for TikTok: (a) it would be just one of many components of their recommendation system, and (b) the TikTok recommendation system has changed a lot during the 2+ years since this has been published.
So take what you see here with a grain of salt. After reading the paper and the code, you will NOT know how TikTok's recommendations work.