TikTok, YouTube and Facebook want to appear trustworthy. Don’t be fooled.

TikTok made a big announcement last year. The company would open a Transparency and Accountability Center, giving the public a rare glimpse into how it works, including its algorithm. These A.I.-driven systems are usually black boxes, but TikTok was committed to “leading the way when it comes to being transparent,” it said, providing insight into how and why the algorithm recommends content to users.

The announcement sought to position TikTok as an outlier among peers — the rare tech platform that’s responsible and nontoxic. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube long ago lost the battle for public opinion, facing ire from consumers and lawmakers about A.I. systems that misinform, radicalize and polarize. But as a newer platform, TikTok has the potential to stake out a rosier reputation, even amid negative press about its privacy practices and connection to China.