TikTok and Politics both words used in the same sentence might sound quite alien to you considering it’s the place where you go to see dances, skits, aesthetic videos of your favorite sportsman, or for some recipes to spice up your boring eating routine on the weekends but there is an interesting side to this platform one indulging heavily in politics and activism.
In this blog, we will take a deep dive into this subgenre of political and activist content available on TikTok. How young people are using it to raise their voices for issues such as structural racism, environmental issues, and social justice. The vast amount of misinformation and how you could become a part of a small echo chamber. How political satire and commentary are shredding old narratives and misinformation on the platform in a funny engaging way. So, let’s get started;
How TikTok is Shaping Politics?
According to German philosopher Hannah Ardent, “The realm of appearances is the world of politics”. Politics is theater or its very own kind of performance. Just look at the modern-day debates on TV which are more to build a politician’s political avatar and to entertain rather than inform the masses. TikTok is the latest tool that provides a platform for these appearances with a large audience and an impact on the youth.
Sabotage of a Trump Rally
The youth made their voices heard when they sabotaged a Trump rally in Tulsa, where K-pop stans on TikTok helped people in on how to buy tickets for a venue to never show up. As a result, in the venue of 19,000 people, only 6,200 showed up.
War in Ukraine
TikTok played a great role in the war in Ukraine where most of the soldiers shared their front-line experience on this platform. Data showed that most of Gen-Z was learning about war through TikTok. Considering this white House arranged a meeting with famous TikTok stars on the war in Ukraine and how they can use their platform to combat the Russian propaganda and misinformation on the platform.
Black Lives Matter Movement
TikTok has also helped mobilize and spread awareness of Black Lives Matter movement protests after the murder of George Floyd. #BlackLivesMatter had 30bn views. There are videos on the history of the movement and how to be an effective ally which led to CNN naming TikTok as the hub for #BlackLivesmatter activism. One more thing, You can also buy TikTok views from trusted sites to boost your visibility and overall engagement but it’s not a recommended strategy.
Climate Change
Climate change is a big concern for Gen-Z. you can see that a lot of content on the platform engages with the issues of climate change. A lot of famous influencers focus on products that are organic, locally sourced, and green. There are videos on how policymakers should make policies to move toward a greener environment.
How TikTok Has Impacted Politics and Activism
1. Youth Engagement and Political Awareness
Most of today’s youth are mostly active on TikTok as a platform. Most of the time news breaks to me through TikTok. In the 2020 US elections, hashtags like register to vote just voted started by many celebrities, content creators and influencers led to an all-time high Gen Z voter turnout.
In the local context, the notion of political awareness or engagement in youth has been made possible due to the majority of political debates and speeches taking a life of comedy videos on TikTok.
2. User-Generated Political Content
Since paid political ads are banned on TikTok most of its political discourse is user-generated. Many of its Gen-Z users are making informative explainers, and political commentary videos, issuing advocacy for their beliefs, encouraging others to vote, and even making memes and parodies of some political events like mocking Trump’s speeches.
3. Political Challenges and Trends
Political challenges and trends on TikTok are mainly done to encourage participation but most of the time many people would only participate to be viral. Many of these challenges can become hollow if not followed by concrete action. For example, many celebrities and companies would participate in clangs and say that they are environmentally conscious only to take the most unnecessary flights damaging the environment.
4. Political Education and Information Sharing
Many TikTokers are using their platform to educate the youth on certain political issues and how they can take action to protect their interests. When the right to abortion was banned in certain states many women, doctors, and medical staff took to the platform to share information on why it is necessary as a part of women’s healthcare.
5. Grassroots Activism
TikTok has been used as a platform for grassroots activism due to its reach and ability to amplify the political and social consciousness of people. It has given a platform to the downtrodden people of the society. During the black lives movement, many black people shared their experiences of the racism they faced routinely just for the color of their skin which had such a global impact that many companies changed their policies to be more inclusive.
6. Political Campaigns and Advocacy on TikTok
As direct political paid ads are not allowed on TikTok the political campaigns mainly take the form of advocacy by the influencers or celebrities on the platform. There are many videos on the platform of why you should not be voting for a certain politician if you care about a certain minority. Many times, political parties will pay these users for support of their agenda and the generation of viral videos across both sides of the political divide.
7. Political Satire and Commentary
A lot of criticism of certain politicians and political ideas is done in the form of political satire. Some users may directly give their POV on things such as economic policies, while others might do it in the form of political satire. Fraud cast is a shining example of this where political and cultural issues facing Pakistani society are presented in the form of satire. Many influencers directly make detailed videos often in parts on why they are leaving certain brands for not being green or being hateful towards a certain minority group.
8. Algorithmic Impact
The algorithm of TikTok works in such a way that it delivers content on your FYP page based on the videos, trends, and topics you have interacted with. You might feel you are getting all kinds of news but in reality, your focus would be quite narrow. The algorithm may give a boost to your TikTok video based only on the virality of the sound or the hashtag which amplifies your message.
9. Misinformation and Echo Chambers
TikTok’s algorithm works in such a way that it can lead to immediate and fast-paced spread of misinformation. The vast majority of anti-vaccination narratives spread due to TikTok’s ability to repost and reuse a viral sound. Other than misinformation the algorithm also results in the formation of echo chambers across both sides of the divide which has resulted in immense polarization.
FAQ’s
Q: How TikTok is used for activism?
A: Under the hashtags led by activists, influencers, and celebrities the discourse generates loops of viral videos and offline activism.
Q: How does TikTok influence youth?
A: TikTok is used as a tool to educate youth about politics, social injustices, and climate change.
Q: How is TikTok affecting society?
A: TikTok is effective in giving voice to the oppressed and overlooked members of society but has also generated immense polarization due to the formation of echo chambers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, TikTok is an effective tool that can be used for activism and to get youth actively involved in politics. It has given voice to the downtrodden people in society. Its algorithm is responsible for widespread misinformation and the generation of echo chambers which has resulted in an immense polarized society. So, good luck, and thanks for reading!
