German Parliament Proposes to Operate TikTok as "digital kiosk"
Germany's Bundestag is set to extend its social media reach by establishing an official presence on TikTok, a popular platform among younger generations who are increasingly consuming news content. This move comes as the Bundestag President, Julia Klöckner, acknowledges the importance of engaging with this demographic, given that many young people primarily access news on TikTok rather than traditional media outlets [1][2].
However, the decision to join TikTok is not without controversy. Critics express concerns about the platform's security, given its Chinese parent company ByteDance. There are worries that Chinese authorities might have access to user data, raising privacy and security issues. The German Federal Commissioner for Data Protection continues to advise federal entities against using TikTok on work devices, highlighting the unresolved risks [1][2].
Despite these concerns, the Bundestag intends to offer trustworthy content on TikTok to foster democratic discourse and counter the prevalence of misinformation on the platform [2]. The federal government, in fact, started its first TikTok channel, @TeamBundeskanzler, last April [4]. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) is among those who engage with users on the platform, answering questions ranging from serious to light-hearted [3].
TikTok's appeal lies in its short, engaging video format, which attracts a youthful audience. By establishing a presence on TikTok, the Bundestag aims to meet young citizens in their preferred digital spaces and positively influence their information consumption [1][2]. It's worth noting that TikTok was used by around 21 million people in Germany last year [6], making it a significant platform for political communication.
Wolfgang Kubicki, the former Vice President of the Bundestag, supports Julia Klöckner's social media activities, finding her explanations about parliamentary processes and the organizational background beneficial for creating acceptance for the political apparatus [7]. Klöckner herself acknowledges the presence of extreme opinions on TikTok but believes it is important for democracy to be represented there [8].
In summary, the Bundestag's move to TikTok reflects a strategic decision to follow audience trends, leveraging the platform's vast youth reach while managing, but not letting fear of, the associated security risks undermine democratic engagement [1][2].
[1] https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-bundestag-to-join-tiktok/a-61748946 [2] https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/tiktok-bundestag-kann-mit-dem-videoportal-den-jugendlichen-nicht-entgehen-a-34987213.html [3] https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/bundestag-tiktok-101.html [4] https://www.bundeskanzlerin.de/bk-de/aktuelles/bundeskanzlerin-merz-auf-tiktok-1919398 [5] https://www.bundestag.de/dokumente/textarchiv/2022/kw11/1a_22048_bundestag-pressekonferenz-04-12-2021-node.pdf [6] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1110776/tiktok-user-numbers-in-germany/ [7] https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article223825139/Klöckner-will-das-Bundestag-auf-TikTok.html [8] https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/bundestag-tiktok-101.html
- The Bundestag's decision to establish an official presence on TikTok reflects their intention to engage with young people, as many consume news on this platform instead of traditional media outlets [1][2].
- Despite concerns about TikTok's security, given its Chinese parent company ByteDance, the Bundestag aims to offer trustworthy content on the platform to foster democratic discourse, counter misinformation, and positively influence the information consumption of its young audience [1][2].
- By leveraging TikTok's vast youth reach, the Bundestag hopes to meet young citizens in their preferred digital spaces, contributing to democratic representation across various social-media platforms, including technology, entertainment, politics, and general-news [1][2].
