In a revelation that should shock no one paying attention, TikTok has been caught red-handed using its algorithms to suppress content that exposes China’s egregious human rights violations, all while promoting a rosy, CCP-approved view of China. This comes from a new study by researchers at Rutgers University, who have convincingly demonstrated that TikTok isn’t just a harmless app for sharing dance videos but a tool for Chinese propaganda.
The study’s findings are a clear indication that TikTok, under the guise of being a global social media platform, actively censors content critical of the Chinese Communist Party, while pushing pro-China propaganda to its predominantly young audience. This manipulation is particularly insidious given the platform’s popularity among American teens, who are being spoon-fed a distorted version of reality where China’s human rights abuses are downplayed or outright ignored.
The U.S. National Security Agency has aptly dubbed TikTok a “Trojan horse” for the CCP—a platform that not only poses a long-term security threat but also serves Beijing’s interests by molding the minds of American youth. Meanwhile, some lawmakers have accurately called TikTok “digital fentanyl,” highlighting its addictive nature and destructive impact on its users.
What’s more appalling is the stark contrast in the portrayal of sensitive topics like the Uyghur genocide and Tiananmen Square massacre across different platforms. TikTok’s algorithmic bias towards pro-China content is so profound that it makes the platform uniquely dangerous compared to its counterparts like YouTube and Instagram.
It’s evident that TikTok, and by extension ByteDance, are complicit in a broader CCP agenda to reshape global perceptions in favor of China. The implications of this are vast and deeply concerning for democratic societies. By skewing the narrative on critical issues, TikTok is playing an active role in a form of psychological warfare, one that seeks to undermine democratic values and promote authoritarian views.
The solution is clear: there must be accountability. Social media platforms, especially those like TikTok that wield immense influence, must not be allowed to operate unchecked in democratic societies. If they do, we’re all at risk of losing more than just data privacy—we risk losing our very autonomy in the face of foreign manipulation. It’s high time for rigorous oversight and stringent regulations to curb this digital menace and protect our youth from CCP propaganda.
