Antisemitism Thrives on TikTok Despite Moderation Efforts

Introduction

Antisemitism, the hatred and discrimination against Jewish people, continues to be a significant problem both publicly and through acts of violence. In 2020, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported a record-high 2,024 antisemitic incidents in the United States. This trend has only worsened, with a 75% increase in antisemitism during the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in May 2021.

Social media platforms, including the popular video-sharing app

, have become breeding grounds for the spread of hate speech, misinformation, and incitements of violence. Despite claims by TikTok to moderate such content, users continue to publish prohibited material, and the platform's

algorithm

A set of rules or instructions that a computer follows to perform a specific task, such as recommending content to users on a social media platform.

 

may even be contributing to the problem by pushing users towards more disturbing content.

TikTok: The Platform, Audiences and Content

, a Chinese-owned video-sharing app, has experienced rapid growth since its launch in 2016, becoming one of the most popular non-game apps worldwide. The platform's user-friendly features, such as the ability to create and share short videos with a range of special effects and editing options, have made it particularly appealing to a young, Gen Z audience.

However,

's

algorithm

A set of rules or instructions that a computer follows to perform a specific task, such as recommending content to users on a social media platform.

 

has also made the platform attractive to extremist, racist, and radical groups, exposing its young users to a variety of harmful content, including antisemitic and

neo-Nazi

A person or group that follows the beliefs and ideologies of the Nazi party, which promoted extreme nationalism, racism, and antisemitism. Neo-Nazis often engage in the spread of hateful propaganda and the promotion of violence against Jewish people and other minority groups.

 

propaganda. Despite the platform's terms of service stating that users must be over the age of 13, TikTok is widely used by children and teenagers, raising concerns about its potential to negatively impact this vulnerable user base.

TikTok's Algorithm

's

algorithm

A set of rules or instructions that a computer follows to perform a specific task, such as recommending content to users on a social media platform.

 

-driven "For You" page is designed to keep users engaged and entertained by providing a personalized stream of video content based on their interactions, video information, and device/account settings. This

recommendation system

A feature that suggests content to users based on their preferences and behavior, with the goal of keeping them engaged and entertained.

 

can create an "

anaesthetic effect

A situation where users consume content for long periods without fully being aware of its impact or consequences, potentially leading to harmful effects.

 

," where users consume content for long periods without full awareness.

However, the algorithm's ability to push users towards more of the same content, even if it is disturbing or harmful, can create a dangerous spiral of hate and violence that TikTok must address.

Old and New Antisemitism

Antisemitism is a longstanding and adaptable form of prejudice against Jews, rooted in conspiracy theories and hostile beliefs. While traditional

has taken various forms over time, a "

new antisemitism

A form of antisemitism (prejudice against Jewish people) that targets the state of Israel and Zionism (the movement to establish and maintain a Jewish homeland in Israel) rather than Jewish people directly. This newer type of antisemitism often involves denying or minimizing the Holocaust, and criticizing Israel in a way that is tantamount to hatred of Jewish people.

 

" has emerged in recent decades, which targets the state of Israel and

Zionism

The movement to establish and maintain a Jewish homeland in the historical region of Israel. Zionism is a political ideology and nationalist movement among the Jewish people that supports the creation and protection of a Jewish state in the territory defined as the Land of Israel.

 

rather than Jews directly.

This new form of

often manifests online, through Holocaust denial, promotion of violence against Jews, and criticism of Israel that is tantamount to hatred of Jews. To address this evolving threat, the

International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance

An intergovernmental organization that works to promote Holocaust education, remembrance, and research worldwide. It has provided a working definition of antisemitism that encompasses both direct hatred of Jews as well as more indirect forms of bias, such as holding Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the state of Israel.

 

has provided a working definition of

antisemitism

Prejudice, hatred, or discrimination against Jewish people.

 

, which encompasses both direct hatred of Jews as well as more indirect forms of bias.

Antisemitism on TikTok

Researchers found that

is prevalent on the

TikTok

A popular social media platform where users can create and share short videos.

 

platform, with extremists exploiting the platform's young audience and lax security to spread hate speech, including

neo-Nazi

A person or group that follows the beliefs and ideologies of the Nazi party, which promoted extreme nationalism, racism, and antisemitism. Neo-Nazis often engage in the spread of hateful propaganda and the promotion of violence against Jewish people and other minority groups.

 

and

Boogaloo

A far-right extremist movement that advocates for a second American civil war. Some Boogaloo groups have been known to incorporate antisemitic and racist elements into their ideology and online content.

 

content with antisemitic and racist elements.

Concerning trends have emerged on TikTok, such as the "

" where users pretended to be Holocaust victims, and the use of the "Expressify" filter to exaggerate facial features while singing about money, wealth, and greed, which play into traditional antisemitic stereotypes.

Findings

Researchers found that

on TikTok was expressed through various formats, including posts, comments, hashtags, and usernames. Memes containing antisemitic tropes, such as the "Happy Merchant" meme, were commonly used to spread hatred. User handles and display names also frequently contained Holocaust denial, accusations of Jewish control, or calls for harming Jews.

The researchers also observed that a substantial amount of

on TikTok was disguised as criticism of Israel or Holocaust denial, which is a form of

antisemitism

Prejudice, hatred, or discrimination against Jewish people.

 

that claims the Holocaust was invented or exaggerated by Jews to advance their interests. This type of

antisemitism

Prejudice, hatred, or discrimination against Jewish people.

 

is considered a form of "new

antisemitism

Prejudice, hatred, or discrimination against Jewish people.

 

," which targets the state of Israel and

Zionism

The movement to establish and maintain a Jewish homeland in the historical region of Israel. Zionism is a political ideology and nationalist movement among the Jewish people that supports the creation and protection of a Jewish state in the territory defined as the Land of Israel.

 

rather than Jews directly.

Over time, the researchers noted an increase in user awareness of the prevalence of antisemitic content on TikTok, with some users purposefully misspelling words like "Jews" as "juice" to avoid detection and account deletion by the platform's hate speech policies.

Conclusions

Despite TikTok's claims of zero tolerance for

, the platform continues to be a breeding ground for such content, with the company failing to effectively remove reported and unreported posts and comments expressing hatred towards Jewish people. TikTok's

algorithm

A set of rules or instructions that a computer follows to perform a specific task, such as recommending content to users on a social media platform.

 

, which can push users towards more disturbing content, is a particularly concerning feature that sets it apart from other social media platforms.

The broader challenge of addressing

on social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, underscores the need for more effective content moderation and the implementation of robust measures to combat the spread of hate speech and misinformation.