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German TikTokers like China, Russia more, poll shows (www.reuters.com)

submitted 13 hours ago by [email protected] to c/world

22 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Summary

A German poll revealed that TikTok users are less likely to view China as a dictatorship, criticize Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, or support vaccines and climate change action compared to traditional media consumers.

The study, commissioned by a foundation linked to Germany's Free Democrats, highlights TikTok’s role in shaping opinions, with users showing greater susceptibility to misinformation, including narratives favoring China and Russia.

Younger TikTok users were particularly impacted, correlating with growing support for far-right parties like the AfD.

Experts warn of the app's role in spreading foreign disinformation.

all 23 comments

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

Ironically the "Free Democrats" which are like a milktoast version of Musk style Neoliberalism/light Fascism, with recent endorsements of Musk by their party leadership, have gotten a good result in the previous election primarily because of their social media campaigns. Of course having the Axel-Springer Media heavily favor them also played a role. It is the publisher that recently had Musk endorse the fascist AfD party in an article.

But if you think this "Free Democrats" only recently got in bed with fascism, don't worry. They were also the party with the most ex-NSDAP members after WW2 and they advocated for "looking past" the Nazi history in the 50s already.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 11 hours ago

Germans who get their news through TikTok are less likely to see China as a dictatorship, be less critical of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and be more sceptical about climate change and the utility of vaccines than consumers of other media.

[–] DicJacobus 17 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

people want to believe in a conspiracy. t hey want to believe there is someone steering the ship, (evidently they believe its lizard people).

people are so brainrotted by social media, that you could convince people the moon is edible, if you make a video with enough production value and have the right person talking to the camera.

thats a huge reason why certified dumb as a doorknob joe rogan is held in such high regard. its a stupidity feedback loop.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

people are so brainrotted by social media, that you could convince people the moon is edible, if you make a video with enough production value and have the right person talking to the camera.

When I was a kid, we were told the moon was made of cheese and we didn't even need video evidence of this to be convinced.

[–] Zorque 1 points 8 hours ago

... Wensleydale?

[–] PugJesus 51 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (1 children)

No, no, I was told that Tiktok was Holsum Left Education and besides, China is more free than the degenerate West.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (2 children)

This article aside, it scares me how fast misinformation spreads on tiktok. They'd probably believe anything as long as you put subway surfers and music in the background.

It makes sense, since much of the userbase is just kids; but it's very dangerous for them.

PS, i don't support banning tiktok anywhere. Despite it being dangerous as i said, clearly that is not what concerns the governments.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

It makes sense, since much of the userbase is just kids

This shit was a whole lot easier when the only computer with Internet was the one in the family room and you could see what the kids were doing online from across the room.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 13 hours ago

~~Big Brother~~ Mother is watching you.

Or better yet, don't let the internet raise them. Kids should at least access the internet from age 14, but anything before that should be with adult supervision.

It fucks them up heavily.

[–] Raiderkev 3 points 10 hours ago

Propaganda works... More at 11

[–] [email protected] -5 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (2 children)

People who like China are more likely to download tiktok. I don't read anything comparing users to before they started using tiktok...

[–] [email protected] 15 points 13 hours ago (2 children)

Social media + easily influenced kids is bound to have an effect.

But I agree this news doesn’t show causation just correlation.

[–] ForgotAboutDre -1 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

It is reasonable to assume correlation in the context the causation occurs in. To imply TikTok isn’t influencing people is baseless ignorance or deliberately misleading.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago)

To imply TikTok isn’t influencing people is baseless ignorance or deliberately misleading.

Either you’re not actually replying to me or strawmanning me because I said said this.

Social media + easily influenced kids is bound to have an effect.

Apart from that, all I said was that the poll showed correlation between tiktok use and favourable views of Russia/China. I said the poll didn’t show causation, not that it didn’t exist. And I was only talking about views of Russia/China not generally on if tiktok is influencing people.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

Just be very aware of confirmation bias, especially when it comes to politics.

[–] ForgotAboutDre 5 points 11 hours ago

People downloading TikTok are more likely to be impressionable children, TikTok then influences these children. Is a much more likely outcome, than what your suggesting.