Israel’s University of Haifa reveals shocking statistics in a recent study regarding the TikTok app; Those involved in the research believe the app is essentially being weaponized to target the younger generation with antisemitic material.
According to a study done by the University of Haifa and Israel’s Institute for Counter-Terrorism, the notorious TikTok app is being used to encourage antisemitic material – even the denial of the Holocaust. To make matters worse, the study showed that this material is specifically targeting the younger generation. TikTok is a Chinese-owned app that originally became famous for video editing, music, and other forms of entertainment.
As noted by The Times of Israel, this study is titled, “Spreading Hate on TikTok.” The study revealed that from February to May, one-fifth of posts from “far-right extremists” could be connected to antisemitic material. The study categorized 196 posts as falling under the umbrella of “far-right extremism,” though this activity really has proven to have no political side – it’s just evil. This study is said to have first originated in the Studies in Conflict & Terrorism Journal.
Addressing some of the faults of TikTok, the study says, “While similar concerns were with regard to other social platforms, TikTok has unique features to make it more troublesome. First, unlike all other social media, TikTok’s users are almost all young children, who are more naive and gullible when it comes to malicious content. Second, TikTok is the youngest platform, thus severely lagging behind its rivals, who have had more time to grapple with how to protect their users from disturbing and harmful content.”
Used by mostly children and teenagers, TikTok is the fastest growing app with over 1.5 billion users worldwide.
