TikTok Exposes Young Voters to AI-Generated Fakes, Abuse and Misinformation

In a digital battleground that may influence the UK’s electoral landscape, TikTok has emerged as a powerful force shaping political narratives, particularly among younger voters. Analysis of social media feeds in key constituencies reveals the platform’s growing role in political discourse, alongside concerns about misinformation.

Examining the social media experiences of three fictional voter profiles in the battleground constituency of Bishop Auckland—currently Conservative-held but a Labour target—shows that while political content appears across various platforms, TikTok hosts the most vibrant political conversation among younger users.

The platform’s influence has expanded dramatically since the previous election. According to Ofcom, the UK media regulator, TikTok was the fastest-growing news source in the country for the second consecutive year in 2023, with 10% of adults now using it to stay informed. Perhaps more significantly, one in ten teenagers identify it as their primary news source.

This surge in popularity coincides with the app’s ability to engage younger generations in political discourse. Political content on TikTok ranges from legitimate campaign messaging to user-generated commentary that can sometimes include misleading information.

One fictional voter profile—”Jack,” a disaffected 31-year-old in Bishop Auckland—regularly encountered TikTok videos containing misrepresentations of Labour politicians’ statements. These included misleading speech bubbles attributed to Labour figures on hot-button issues such as immigration, transgender rights, and Brexit. Among the false claims propagated was an assertion that the shadow international development secretary had called to “abolish the Army”—a statement with no basis in fact.

The Bishop Auckland constituency represents the changing political dynamics in the UK’s former “red wall”—traditionally Labour-supporting areas that switched to Conservative in the last election. How voters in these regions consume political content could prove decisive in determining the next government.

Social media experts note that TikTok’s algorithm-driven content delivery system, which prioritizes engagement, can create personalized information ecosystems that may limit exposure to diverse political viewpoints. This raises concerns about potential echo chambers forming during the election campaign.

“TikTok’s algorithm is designed to keep users engaged by showing them more of what they’ve previously interacted with,” explains Dr. Samantha Reynolds, a digital media researcher at Cambridge University, who was not involved in the analysis. “This can create reinforcing cycles of political content that align with existing beliefs, potentially limiting exposure to alternative perspectives.”

The platform has implemented measures to combat misinformation, including partnering with fact-checking organizations and labeling election-related content. However, the volume and velocity of content creation present significant challenges to effective moderation.

For political parties, TikTok represents both an opportunity and a challenge. While it offers access to younger demographics that traditional campaign methods might miss, it also creates an environment where campaign messages can be quickly recontextualized or distorted by users.

The findings highlight broader questions about the role of social media in democratic processes. Whether or not individuals personally use TikTok, the narratives and perceptions forming on the platform may influence electoral discourse more broadly, as content often migrates between platforms and into mainstream media coverage.

As the election approaches, media literacy experts recommend that voters across all age groups approach political content on social media platforms with critical awareness, seeking information from multiple sources and checking claims against official party positions before forming judgments.

The evolving role of platforms like TikTok in political communication underscores the increasingly complex media landscape facing voters and candidates alike in modern democratic elections.