TikTok users being fed misleading election news, BBC finds

18 comments

1. TikTok users not consuming the right misinformation; government authorised misinformation dealer complains

2. [deleted]

3. This any different to us being fed BS on the news?

   Or from the actual candidates themselves?

4. There’s misinformation everywhere, even the BBC (looking at you Laura Kuenssberg)

5. The only reason this is even in the news is because it most of the AI videos are Rishi-based. The BBC’s coverage of the election has been ridiculously Tory-bias this time around. What does Laura K. think of this?

   Want to know about Labours public energy company? Tough, here’s more Diane Abbot theater.

6. Why don’t we just block out foreign social media from a set date up until post election? Ban Insta, Facebook, Shittok etc.

7. It’s not just TikTok though (although I do agree it’s a problem). The number of people who have totally wacky takes or who just do not understand what is going on is incredible. I know someone who at the last GE was terrified because she thought the conservatives would deport every single person who wasn’t white if they won. To this day, I’ve no idea where she got that from. It’s scary what people will believe.

8. How is that any diffrent from bbc viewers or the sun readers?

9. Because the BBC are a bastion for sex offenders and non-biased news coverage. Who’s using TikTok as a reliable source for news anyway?!

10. Gee, Chinese owned social media seeks to spread destablising misinformation?

    I. AM. SHOCKED!

11. The same TikTok that’s being banned in the US because the Chinese Communist Party is using it to mislead people and sew disent in competing nations?

    Colour me surprised.

12. We need to be able to harshly, and I mean extremely harshly, punish people for deliberately generating misinformation for political gain.

13. TikTok is full of Reform bots which I fully support. They’re persuading all the stupid people to waste their votes instead of voting for the Tories.

14. TikTok spits facts! they are scared of TikTok as usual

15. Return to the tradition of home-grown tabloid misinformation and election interference from outlets like The Times or The Sun.. owned by an unaccountable foreigner in Murdoch. Or Daily Mail group owned by a non-dom, that’s almost as good. 

16. Considering the lies our dear leaders tell, just presume everything is not true.

17. I would be concerned if Chinese bots were producing this content but if it’s Uk folk misleading others I’m inclined to think this isn’t any different than any other social media amplifying bs due to the nature of the algos.

18. I hope everyone in this thread is aware that none of us are immune to propaganda either. The amount of misinformation across all social media, including Reddit, is absolutely wild.