SPECIAL FEATURE
British telecoms regulator Ofcom found that from April 2024, 71 percent of 16- to 24-year-olds use social media as a source of news.
As the UN Climate Change Conference COP29 approaches, Tiktok’s role as a climate advocacy tool becomes increasingly
provocative campaigns, harm to children, threats of terrorism, data privacy and possible access to government information. Social media plays a vital role during election campaigns by creating attention, shaping perception, setting policy agendas and targeting voters. TikTok also serves as a playground for climate change deniers, conspiracy theorists and other fantasists. Despite the company’s repeated promises a clampdown has yet to happen. A study by the Australian Institute of International Affairs, published in August 2024, found at least three reasons why information on TikTok is more impactful than on other platforms. First, the platform is more engaging than other social media sites. Second, compared to other platforms, TikTok attracts more young people. Third, the multimodal nature of the visual content can be absorbed quickly, keeping memory retention longer for opinion
formation. Because visual information is processed more directly and effortlessly on TikTok, it is perceived as precise and integrated more effectively into memory. This effectiveness also means that misleading visuals can generate false perceptions. Ika Idris, Associate Professor of Public Policy & Management, Monash University, Indonesia, concludes: “TikTok’s unique blend of entertainment and visual appeal has positioned it as a powerful tool for shaping public opinion, becoming as a result fertile ground for disseminating disinformation. As TikTok continues to influence political landscapes, governments, civil societies and public opinion, people must remain critical. The battle against disinformation is about combating harmful content and fostering a more informed and discerning public capable of navigating the increasingly blurred lines between entertainment and reality.”
significant. The conference has
even launched its own official TikTok channel, which, as of early September 2024, had gathered some 4,000 followers and 30,000 likes. This development underscores how TikTok is bridging the gap between high- level policy discussions and grassroots digital activism. The synergy between these efforts highlights the growing importance of social media in shaping global climate policy and galvanizing collective action. However, the expansive reach of TikTok also presents challenges. According to data collected by the British telecoms regulator Ofcom from April 2024, one in 10 people aged between 12 and 15 cited TikTok as their main source of news, while 71 percent of 16- to 24-year-olds use social media instead of, or in addition to, news websites. Yet TikTok (and other platforms) are not only used to support good causes. Au contraire . At least 34 countries have banned or are in the process of banning TikTok due to concerns about propaganda, hate speech, manipulative content,
“The battle against disinformation is about navigating the increasingly blurred lines between entertainment and reality.”
Ika Idris, Associate Professor of Public Policy & Management, Monash University
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