TikTok Algorithm Suppresses Content on Chinas Human Rights Abuses

A new study suggests that TikTok users may not be seeing the complete picture when it comes to China`s human rights history. The study, conducted by the Network Contagion Research Institute, found that searching for terms related to China`s human rights abuses on TikTok yielded less critical content compared to Instagram and YouTube. Researchers believe this difference stems from TikTok`s algorithm, which appears to promote more positive or neutral content about China. However, TikTok disputes the study`s findings, arguing that the methodology doesn`t reflect real user experience. This study adds to existing concerns about potential Chinese government influence over TikTok, which is owned by a Beijing-based company. These concerns have led to US government pressure on TikTok, including a potential ban.