German Parliament Plans to Operate TikTok, Known as "digital kiosk"
In a bid to engage with younger audiences and provide political information, Germany's Bundestag has launched an official TikTok account, joining the ranks of numerous other platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), Mastodon, Bluesky, and LinkedIn [1][2]. This move follows the footsteps of the right-wing AfD, who have already established a strong presence on the platform [1][3].
The decision to expand onto TikTok was made by Bundestag President, Julia Klöckner, who recognizes the platform's significance as a major source of news for young people who seldom read print media [1][2]. However, the app's parent company, ByteDance, is based in Beijing, raising concerns among critics and data protection authorities about potential user data collection by Chinese authorities [1].
Despite these worries, TikTok remains widely popular, with around 21 million active monthly users in Germany alone and over 1.5 billion worldwide [1]. The Bundestag aims to use this reach to educate young citizens and counter fake news, acknowledging the platform's vulnerabilities but emphasizing the importance of engagement with the "Zoomer" generation [2][3].
Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and his government also have a presence on TikTok under @TeamBundeskanzler [1]. The Bundestag President, Julia Klöckner, receives support for her social media activities from Wolfgang Kubicki, the former Vice President of the Bundestag [1].
Despite the potential benefits, TikTok presents significant security and data protection challenges. The Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI), Louisa Specht-Riemenschneider, has pointed out these concerns and recommended not using TikTok on official devices [1]. There are concerns that the app could be misused by Chinese authorities to collect information about its users [1].
In balancing the large youth reach and communication potential with ongoing security and data protection challenges, the Bundestag's TikTok presence underscores the need for careful navigation in the digital age. TikTok is problematic in many ways, but it is not banned, and it is used by people who get informed nowhere else [1].
[1] https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/plus166987094/Bundestag-geht-auf-TikTok.html [2] https://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Bundestag-geht-auf-TikTok-und-Facebook-3893357.html [3] https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/tiktok-bundestag-101.html
- Germany's Bundestag, recognizing TikTok's popularity and its role as a significant source of news for younger audiences, has launched an official account on the social-media platform to engage with these demographics and provide political information.
- The Bundestag aims to use TikTok's wide reach to educate young citizens, counter fake news, and engage with the "Zoomer" generation, acknowledging the platform's vulnerabilities but emphasizing the importance of connection amidst ongoing security and data protection challenges.
- Entertainment and social-media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, and Twitter serve as primary sources of general news and information for many young people who seldom read print media, reflecting the significant role these technologies play in shaping the information landscape for the younger generation.
