Викриття How TikTok users in Germany perceive Russian propaganda narratives
A study conducted by the Allensbach Institute on behalf of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation raises concerns about the influence of propaganda on public opinion ahead of elections in Germany. The research revealed that TikTok users and youth in Germany are significantly less critical of Russia and China than the general population. This is reported by Euronews.
Specifically, these users are more likely to doubt the spread of disinformation by Russia, view the Chinese political system as superior to democracy, and question Western narratives about global events. For instance, 78% of Germans overall consider Russia's war against Ukraine to be illegal, but this figure drops to 66% among TikTok users. Additionally, 30% believe the authoritarian Chinese system is more efficient than Western democracy. The influence of disinformation is a growing concern due to its ability to shape political preferences.
Russia actively uses TikTok as a tool for spreading its propaganda for several key reasons. TikTok is popular among young people, who are more vulnerable to emotional and simplified messages, especially when information is presented in an entertaining format. As a result, short videos with vivid visuals and music can easily evoke emotions, fostering the acceptance of manipulative narratives. TikTok's algorithms facilitate the rapid spread of videos, allowing propagandist content to reach a large number of users in a short time. Russian structures often create numerous accounts or use bots to promote disinformation, masking it as user-generated content. TikTok sometimes struggles to react quickly to the spread of fake news, which enables Russian propaganda to reach its audience.