TikTok as a source of danger: Children in the radicalization trap?

TikTok as a source of danger: Children in the radicalization trap?

Radical ideologies are increasingly finding their way onto social media, particularly on the TikTok platform. Investigative journalist Clemens Neuhold warns in his new book and in a conversation with krone.tv about the dangers posed by this app. He describes the content distributed there as toxic for the “brains of children”. The need for measures to curb this content is considered urgent as the use of TikTok among younger people is increasing rapidly and represents an attractive target group for radical actors. crown reports that TikTok has become a hotspot for the spread of extremist ideologies.

What is particularly alarming is the fact that 54% of 12 to 19 year olds use TikTok regularly. This high level of usage ensures that right-wing extremist actors specifically try to appeal to children and young people by disseminating content that conveys ethnic-national messages. An example of this is a clip in which a fit man wears a slogan from the neo-Nazi scene, which illustrates the reach of such content among young users. Loud ZDF TikTok is seen as a suitable platform for recruiting right-wing extremists.

The role of the TikTok algorithm

TikTok's algorithm encourages the distribution of content that is interesting to users. This also includes right-wing extremist videos, as users interested in certain topics can also receive suggestions for radical content. While radicalization through TikTok itself is considered limited, initial contact with extreme ideologies often takes place there. Right-wing extremist actors use this dynamic to provide links to unprotected communication channels, such as Telegram, through which deeper radicalization processes can be targeted.

Despite TikTok's anti-hate speech policies and use of AI tools to filter content, the danger is real: users need to be able to identify problematic content in order to report it. Experts therefore recommend that parents and guardians should actively talk to children and young people about the content on TikTok in order to promote responsible use of the platform.

Understanding extremism on the internet

The challenge posed by extremist content on social media is further complicated by the diverse nature of extremism online. Political and religious extremists specifically exploit the media behavior of children and young people. Messages are often spread in the form of entertainment or even satire, which increases the risk that such content will be perceived as unproblematic. Loud Youth and media These extremist messages contradict the fundamental values ​​of a democratic society.

Extremist ideologies tend to divide the world into friends and foes and fuel resentment against others. The distinction between “cognitive extremists” and violent extremists is also important. The former do not necessarily call for the use of violence, but represent socially contradictory views, while the latter propagate or justify violence.

Overall, the situation is alarming and there is an urgent need for a more conscious approach to platforms like TikTok to protect the next generation from the dangers of extremist ideologies.