Down the TikTok Rabbit Hole: Testing the TikTok Algorithm’s Contribution to Right Wing Extremist Radicalization

Abstract

(EN) Using a new moderately conservative TikTok profile, and insight from an auto-ethnographic exploration, this study suggests TikTok’s loose guidelines, inaction, and recommendation algorithms have the potential to contribute to an individual’s radicalization process. The platform’s recommendations, after watching a thousand videos, were increasingly radical in nature, in content, and in tone, ultimately sending the profile into conspirational echo chambers. I suggest this trend, and the ensuing echo chambers, challenge individual protective factors for radicalization, contribute to banalize fringe and far-right narratives, and thus warrant additional research and investigation. This is particularly true as I observed substantial bridging between narratives, starting from mainstream conservative political material toward antivaxxer material, hypermasculinity, TikTok’s Hatescape, a conspiracy rabbit hole, socialization and education on hate or dissidence, and even some calls for and demonstration of violence. The platform progressively recommended a significant variety of hateful, far-right, and conspirational themes and narratives, with the potential to appeal and play upon an equally variable range of vulnerability factors and cognitive openings. Likewise, content creators appear to know how to navigate TikTok’s lacking enforcement of community guidelines and play upon current events, feelings, and emotions. The literature suggests that radicalization is a fluid process where actors’ involvement can vary in role and activity, and in its (il)legality. From my observations, I conclude with the need for further research and studies on comment sections, in their role in education, participation, and socialization in potentially radicalizing actors. I further suggest paying additional attention to, and would recommend empirical research of, the change in individuals’ activities on- and offline as a result of their socialization on the platform. (FR) En utilisant un nouveau profil TikTok modérément conservateur et des informations issues d'une exploration auto-ethnographique, cette étude suggère que l'inaction et les algorithmes de recommandation de TikTok ont le potentiel de contribuer au processus de radicalisation d'un individu. Les recommandations de la plateforme, après avoir visionné un millier de vidéos, étaient de plus en plus radicales dans leur nature, leur contenu et leur ton, envoyant finalement le profil dans des chambres d'écho complotistes.