According to a study from the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI), TikTok may promote narratives aligned with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) interests while suppressing other issues. The study was published in December 2024.
Researchers conducted experiments using newly created accounts and surveys to compare TikTok's content to platforms like Instagram and YouTube. They found that TikTok featured less critical content about sensitive topics, such as human rights violations in Tibet and Xinjiang, despite high user engagement with critical posts on other platforms.
To understand user perception, the study surveyed heavy TikTok users about their attitudes toward China. According to the study, frequent TikTok users were more likely to hold favorable views of China's human rights record and consider the country appealing for travel. This suggested that the platform's content may shape user opinions in ways that align with CCP objectives.
The study said there was evidence of algorithmic manipulation promoting pro-CCP narratives. There were disparities in content visibility, suggesting that critical perspectives were deliberately suppressed on TikTok. By comparing content dissemination patterns across platforms, NCRI suggested that TikTok’s approach to content management may serve as "a powerful tool for shaping global narratives."
According to USA Today, the U.S. Supreme Court is holding a hearing on the national security risks of TikTok on Friday, January 10. ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court to stop an impending ban set to take effect if the company fails to sell the app by January 19 under legislation signed by President Biden. President-elect Donald Trump is taking office the next day and has said he does support the TikTok ban.
The Network Contagion Research Institute is a research group dedicated to reporting on the spread of misinformation and disinformation throughout social media platforms. According to its website, they used open-sourced data to study trends and motivations of digital companies.
