Think tank points out that TikTok's algorithm spreads hate speech

The Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a think tank, has raised concerns that TikTok may not be equipped to tackle the spread of hate speech, as hundreds of accounts spreading specific types of propaganda, such as Holocaust denial, have flourished on the app and garnered tens of millions of views in total.

NazTok: An organized neo-Nazi TikTok network is getting millions of views - ISD

According to the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, there are numerous accounts on TikTok that glorify Nazism or white supremacist mass shootings, garnering a combined total of tens of millions of views and remaining active despite being reported by other users.

Some of the content used specific music or videos to grab the attention of a large number of people, while others replaced words that would be censored with emojis in an attempt to avoid having their accounts suspended, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue reported.

The Institute for Strategic Dialogue believes that behind the spread of such content are organizations that are trying to spread propaganda with a specific intention. One organization surveyed by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue has said that 'TikTok can attract more viewers than X (formerly Twitter) or BitChute (a video sharing service),' and it seems that they perceive TikTok as a platform that is easy to use for them.

The Institute for Strategic Dialogue said, 'TikTok appears to be removing problematic accounts and content individually, but these accounts form networks of similar accounts that follow each other, so even if you remove one, others will pop up. TikTok has failed to properly and swiftly remove accounts promoting pro-Nazi hate speech and propaganda.' It cited problems with TikTok's algorithms and censorship system.

According to the Global Network on Extremism and Technology, an organization that combats terrorism using technology, extremists are reaching out to platforms that attract young people, such as Steam, not just TikTok, so in the future, proper moderation will be necessary on all platforms.