TikTok Enhances Election Information and Security Measures Ahead of 2024 Presidential Election

TikTok’s Initiative to Enhance Election Information Ahead of the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election

TikTok is making significant strides to improve the dissemination of information regarding the upcoming U.S. presidential election, as announced on Wednesday. The platform plans to broaden its election resource landing page, providing insights into the electoral process and emphasizing the trustworthiness of elections. In addition to this, TikTok will roll out new in-feed videos focused on media literacy, aimed at educating users on how to critically evaluate information they encounter online.

Furthermore, TikTok is set to strengthen security protocols for verified accounts belonging to politicians and government officials in the United States. Notably, figures like Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald J. Trump have established their presence on TikTok, marking a significant shift from last year when many American politicians largely avoided the platform.

These initiatives come at a time when TikTok recognizes its role as a prominent news source for millions of Americans, especially as the presidential election approaches. The platform is joining the ranks of other major tech companies, including Meta, Google, and X, which are continually navigating the complexities of handling election-related content. However, TikTok faces an additional layer of scrutiny due to its ownership by the Chinese company ByteDance, amid ongoing national security concerns that could potentially lead to a ban on the app as early as January.

“Young people are increasingly turning to TikTok and other vertical video platforms for news,” stated Alex Mahadevan, the director of MediaWise at the Poynter Institute. Mahadevan’s organization has collaborated with TikTok to produce a series of videos on media literacy, which will soon be available to users. “Recently, TikTok has been dedicating considerable resources to enhancing media literacy and fact-checking capabilities,” he added.

The U.S. government has voiced apprehensions regarding TikTok’s potential impact on future elections. In July, the Justice Department warned that China could influence ByteDance and TikTok to manipulate content delivered to American users, with the intention of undermining trust in the democratic process and deepening social divisions. In response to these concerns, President Biden enacted a significant piece of legislation in April, which stipulates that TikTok will face a ban in the U.S. come January unless ByteDance divests the app to a company not based in China.