Russian state media ramping up English, Spanish TikTok content: Study
- Despite growth, engagement on X, Telegram remains higher
- Intel officials warn the effort coincides with upcoming US election
- TikTok’s future in the US remains unclear as it faces a potential ban
FILE – The TikTok logo is seen on a mobile phone in front of a computer screen which displays the TikTok home screen, March 18, 2023, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
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(NewsNation) — Russian state media has ramped up efforts to post English and Spanish content on TikTok as U.S. intelligence officials warn the Kremlin is potentially seeking to interfere in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, according to new research.
Per the Brookings Institute, Russian state-affiliated accounts have accelerated their use of TikTok since the start of 2024, coinciding with U.S. efforts to ban the immensely popular video app.
While engagement on other platforms like Telegram and X (formerly known as Twitter) remains higher, TikTok Russian state-affiliated accounts are gaining steam.
“Thus far, messaging about U.S. politics has focused on questions about President Joe Biden’s age, protests over Biden’s Israel policies, and political commentator Tucker Carlson’s reflections on Russia and U.S. policy toward Russia, among other topics,” according to the Brookings research.
Legislation forcing TikTok’s parent company to sell the video sharing platform or face a ban in the U.S. received U.S. President Joe Biden’s official signoff in late April.
Critics of the sell-or-be-banned ultimatum argue it violates TikTok users’ First Amendment rights. The app’s China-based owner, ByteDance, has already promised to sue, calling the measure unconstitutional.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
