Recently, with the announcement of the official date for the U.K. General Election, TikTok made a bold move by introducing a new, dedicated in-app General Election centre. The purpose of this centre is to serve as a reliable and authoritative source of information for users in preparation for the upcoming poll. This initiative is aimed at combatting misinformation and manipulation efforts by providing official information through its in-app resource. Partnering with Logically Facts, their fact-checking partner, TikTok will offer media literacy tips in addition to essential election and voting information from the Electoral Commission.
One interesting aspect highlighted by TikTok is the increasing presence of U.K. politicians on the platform. Major political parties such as @uklabour, @ukconservatives, and @libdems have recently created accounts on TikTok. Nearly a hundred Members of Parliament already had TikTok accounts prior to the election, with popular figures like Labour’s Zarah Sultana and Conservative’s Dr. Luke Evans leading the way. Additionally, U.K. news organizations like The Daily Mail, Sky News, the BBC, ITV News, and The Sun are leveraging TikTok to reach new audiences, with millions of followers across their channels.
The looming question is how influential TikTok can be as a source of election information, particularly considering that the majority of U.K. TikTok users fall within the 15-24 age bracket. Interestingly, individuals under 24 are statistically the least likely to vote in the U.K. However, given the extensive time spent by users on the app and the significant number of first-time voters in this demographic, TikTok could potentially play a crucial role in engaging users on important issues leading up to the election. There is speculation that this may be the first “TikTok election”, with trends originating from the app shaping public opinion.
As TikTok emerges as a prominent platform in the U.K. General Election landscape, there is a growing need for enhanced measures to safeguard election integrity. TikTok has acknowledged the importance of implementing additional moderation measures to detect AI manipulation and other forms of influence operations in the lead-up to the election. It is crucial for TikTok to continue providing authoritative resources for users seeking accurate information, ensuring a fair and transparent electoral process.
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