A new study suggests that TikTok may unintentionally promote content favorable to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), raising concerns ahead of a Supreme Court hearing that could decide the platform’s future in the U.S. Researchers from the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) at Rutgers University found that TikTok surfaces less critical content about China compared to other social media platforms, such as Instagram and YouTube. Additionally, the study revealed that American TikTok users tend to hold more favorable views of China than users on other platforms.
This research comes as the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments about the federal government’s authority to ban TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. A ruling in favor of the ban could force ByteDance to divest from TikTok by January 19, potentially removing the app from U.S. app stores and internet service providers.
TikTok’s Algorithm: Less Critical, More Irrelevant Content on China
The NCRI study focused on politically sensitive topics related to China, such as “Tiananmen,” “Tibet,” “Uyghur,” and “Xinjiang.” The researchers compared the content shown on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube when users searched for these terms. The results revealed that while TikTok did not prioritize pro-CCP content, it displayed significantly fewer anti-CCP posts than its competitors. Instead, TikTok often surfaced content that had little relevance to the searched topics.
Further analysis found that anti-CCP content on TikTok garnered significantly more engagement—nearly four times as many likes and comments as pro-CCP posts. Despite this, TikTok’s algorithm still showed nearly three times as much pro-CCP content, a disparity not seen on Instagram or YouTube. This suggests that TikTok’s algorithm may prioritize content that aligns with the CCP’s interests, even when user engagement favors critical content.
Survey Results: TikTok Users More Likely to View China Favorably
In the final part of the study, the researchers surveyed 1,214 Americans about their social media usage and views on China’s human rights record. They found that users who spent more time on social media were more likely to have favorable opinions of China. However, this trend was especially noticeable among TikTok users who spent over three hours a day on the app. While the researchers did not claim that TikTok directly influenced these views, they suggested that the platform might play a role in shaping public perception of China.
TikTok Denies the Study’s Findings
TikTok has rejected the study’s conclusions, calling its methodology flawed. The study used dummy accounts to simulate user experiences, a practice TikTok argues leads to inaccurate results. “This flawed experiment was clearly engineered to reach a false, predetermined conclusion,” said TikTok spokesperson Michael Hughes. “Creating fake accounts does not reflect real users’ experiences.”
Despite TikTok’s objections, concerns about the platform’s potential influence over American users have persisted. U.S. officials have raised alarms about the data TikTok collects and the possibility that ByteDance could be pressured by the Chinese government to manipulate the app’s algorithm or access U.S. user data.
Legal Battle Over TikTok’s Future in the U.S.
The timing of the study coincides with TikTok’s ongoing legal battle with the U.S. government. Last year, Congress passed legislation requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a nationwide ban. This decision was upheld by a federal appeals court, and the case is now being reviewed by the Supreme Court.
The Biden administration and U.S. intelligence agencies argue that TikTok’s Chinese ownership creates a unique security risk, setting it apart from other social media platforms. They worry that the Chinese government could exert influence over TikTok’s operations, threatening U.S. national security. TikTok, on the other hand, contends that the law infringes on free speech rights and has urged the Supreme Court to overturn the ruling.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear TikTok’s case on January 10, just days before the potential ban could take effect. If the court upholds the decision, ByteDance will have until January 19 to sell TikTok, or the platform will be banned in the U.S.
