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Climate Denial Thrives on TikTok Despite Platform Policies, Investigation Finds
As world leaders gather for COP29, the year’s most significant climate summit, an investigation has revealed that TikTok is failing to enforce its own policies against climate change misinformation, potentially undermining public access to accurate climate information during a critical period.
TikTok stands apart from other major social media platforms by explicitly forbidding climate change misinformation in its community guidelines. However, a recent examination of comments on COP29-related videos from major news organizations revealed climate denial content remaining visible despite violating these policies.
Researchers reported 20 comments containing clear climate denial to TikTok using the platform’s built-in reporting tool. These comments, which collectively appeared on videos with over 3 million views, included claims that climate change “isn’t real,” is a “hoax,” a “made-up lie,” or not caused by human activity.
Despite TikTok’s guidelines specifically prohibiting “climate change misinformation that undermines well-established scientific consensus, such as denying the existence of climate change or the factors that contribute to it,” the platform’s moderation system removed only one of the 20 reported comments. Strikingly, another nearly identical comment remained online, with TikTok responding that the remaining comments did not violate its policies.
The findings raise significant concerns about the effectiveness of TikTok’s content moderation, particularly as the platform grows increasingly influential as a news source. Research commissioned by TikTok itself found that 77% of users read comments on videos, suggesting that misinformation in comments sections has substantial reach.
“These risks are exacerbated given that COP29 is a live and highly publicized climate event when people might seek out climate-related information online,” noted the researchers. The comments weren’t hidden in fringe channels but appeared directly on content from respected news sources like the BBC, ITV, and Channel 4 News, some of which appeared as top recommended results for COP29 searches.
A current TikTok content moderation employee, speaking anonymously, expressed concern about the company’s shift toward automated and outsourced moderation: “There are symbolic gestures towards a general idea of ‘doing our part against climate change’ but nothing substantial, nothing of real consequence.”
John Chadfield, national officer for tech at the Communication Workers Union, which represents UK social media moderation staff, emphasized that “Automated moderation should be a tool used by experienced human moderators, not as a replacement.” He warned that “diverting investment to known problematic ‘AI’ solutions puts TikTok’s users at risk.”
The investigation comes at a particularly concerning time, with TikTok reportedly planning to lay off staff responsible for content moderation and safety, including at least 125 people working in the UK.
When approached for comment, TikTok reiterated its prohibition on climate misinformation and claimed it employs a mix of human and automated moderation with “significant investment” in trust and safety. The company also stated that its proactive detection rate for policy violations had improved, with over 98% of violative videos being removed before user reports in Q2 2024.
TikTok initially claimed it had removed all 20 flagged comments, though researchers later found at least one still visible three days after being notified. The company also noted partnerships with creators like Neil deGrasse Tyson to support climate conversations, though researchers discovered climate denial comments on Tyson’s COP-related content as well—even on videos endorsed by TikTok’s official “TikTok For Good” account.
After additional inquiries, TikTok confirmed removing the remaining reported comment and stated it would “continue to monitor for new attempts at spreading harmful misinformation.”
The investigation underscores the gap between TikTok’s stated policies and their actual implementation, highlighting the platform’s challenges in effectively moderating climate misinformation during a period when accurate climate information is particularly crucial.
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9 Comments
TikTok’s failure to remove climate denial comments, even during a critical climate summit, is disappointing. Platforms have a duty to fight the spread of misinformation, not enable it.
Agreed. TikTok needs to do more to ensure their platform isn’t being used to sow doubt about the well-established science of climate change.
It’s disappointing to see TikTok failing to remove climate denial comments, even when reported. Platforms need to take stronger action to combat the spread of misinformation on these critical issues.
I agree. TikTok has a responsibility to its users to provide accurate information, not enable the spread of harmful climate denial.
This is a troubling development. TikTok’s policies prohibit climate misinformation, so they need to enforce those policies consistently, especially during major climate events. Letting denial content spread undermines public trust.
This is concerning. TikTok needs to enforce its own policies against climate denial content, especially during major climate summits. Allowing misinformation to spread undermines public understanding.
It’s concerning that TikTok is allowing climate denial content to remain visible on their platform, even when flagged. They need to take stronger action to uphold their own guidelines and prevent the spread of misinformation.
While freedom of expression is important, platforms like TikTok shouldn’t give a platform to blatantly false claims that undermine the scientific consensus on climate change. They need to do better at content moderation.
This is a serious issue. TikTok should be using this COP summit as an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to fighting climate misinformation, not allowing it to proliferate on their platform.