CURRENT PROJECT

DesINFORMIERT! - Promoting democratic values on TikTok

A digital campaign for democracy, diversity, and tolerance

We raise awareness among young people on TikTok about disinformation and conspiracy theories, strengthen their media literacy, and encourage their participation in democracy.

Timeframe: 09/2024 - 12/2024 (phase 2 until 12/2025 in preparation)

The project "DesINFORMIERT!" aims to raise awareness among adolescents and young adults in the digital space, particularly on TikTok, about the growing spread of disinformation and conspiracy theories.

A key focus is on strengthening their information and media literacy, which is especially important in the lead-up to the 2025 parliamentary elections in Germany. This period is anticipated to see intensified campaigns by politically extreme, anti-democratic and misanthropic actors targeting first-time voters with conspiracy ideologies and disinformation.

In a first phase of the project, we will examine the influence of these political actors and topics on TikTok on first-time voters and how to design counter strategies that can be used to approach young people.

Subsequently, for 2025, we are hoping to develop and implement a digital narrative campaign for democracy, diversity, and tolerance, and against anti-democratic narratives.

Background

Politically extreme, anti-democratic and misanthropic actors are deliberately infiltrating digital spaces like TikTok to reach young people and normalise their extreme views. Disinformation and conspiracy theories serve as accelerants in this radicalisation process.

Additionally, technological developments in artificial intelligence (AI) pose unprecedented challenges to our democracy and society. These politically extreme actors can significantly accelerate the spread of disinformation by utilising generative AI models.

The project addresses this by offering critical perspectives on disinformation and conspiracy content to young people aged 13 to 21, thereby strengthening their information and media literacy.

Activities

The project is divided into two phases, of which the second phase is still in development.

First phase:

The campaign’s design is preceded by a qualitative survey of young first-time voters, who are considered "experts of their own world." They will be interviewed about the activities of politically extreme, anti-democratic and misanthropic actors on TikTok in the context of the 2024 state elections. The aim is to understand how these actors capture the attention of this group, particularly how they manage to position disinformation and conspiracy ideologies, as well as to identify points of resistance that could inform countermeasures.

Second phase:

Consequently, we hope to conceptualise and implement a digital narrative campaign in 2025. The aim is to provide visible and effective counter-narratives to disinformation, propaganda, and conspiracy theories, to create and amplify narratives that strengthen democracy, and to encourage engagement for peaceful (digital) coexistence while motivating democratic participation.