Far-Right Visual Communication: the Great Potential of TikTok to Mobilise for Radical Causes

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In the evolving landscape of digital communication, social media platforms have become prominent arenas for political expression and mobilisation (Koc-Michalska & Lilleker, 2017). Among these, TikTok, a platform predominantly known for its entertainment content, has emerged as a significant medium for political discourse, including activities by far-right groups. Arguably, the platform is currently the most trending digital environment for far-right communication, mobilisation, and recruiting because of its wide potential to generate reach and influence — posing a significant threat to democratic systems. This text is a summary of the presentation held at the annual conference of the ECTC Advisory Network on terrorism and propaganda on 26 and 27 March 2024, under the title ‘Gen Z and (counter-)terrorism’, and delves into the far-right mobilisation activities on the platform by covering three key areas.

Author: Julian Hohner

This paper was presented at the 5th conference of the European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC) Advisory Network on terrorism and propaganda, 26-27 March 2024, at Europol Headquarters, The Hague. The views expressed are the authors’ own and do not necessarily represent those of Europol.

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