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Network Contagion Research Institute Intelligence Report 15 ranked as the fourth most active poster, and official state media @cgtn as the fifth most active poster. The high visibility enjoyed on Instagram and YouTube by either official CCP media sources or affiliated third parties around discussion of “Xinjiang” testifies to the successful cultivation and weaponization of social media assets to again achieve the “seduce and subjugate” pillar of Beijing’s influence doctrine. Figure 9: Pro-China Media Assets on Instagram Engagement Metadata Whereas the first prong of our data analysis shed light on the pro-China bias of TikTok’s search algorithm, engagement metadata analysis14 illuminates which category of content (pro-China vs. anti-China) accrued more engagement (likes and views) from platform users. This allows us to determine not only what category of content was served most frequently, but what category of content was most popular with other users. As has been widely documented by researchers and marketing experts, the initial engagement awarded to videos posted on TikTok (views, full-length plays, likes, comments, shares) influences the extent to which the algorithm exposes the content to successively broader audiences.15 Despite this accepted rule of thumb, our findings point to the opposite conclusion than is suggested by the user journey data presented above, namely that though pro-China content is served up by the TikTok search algorithm much more often, anti-China content appears far more engaging for organic users. 14 See Appendix III for full metadata engagement metrics. In this study, engagement metadata refers to the engagements (views, likes, comments, shares, etc.) awarded to videos analyzed. 15 Klug, D., Qin, Y., Evans, M., Zhang, B., & Zhang, K. (2022). An empirical investigation of personalization factors on TikTok. arXiv. https://ar5iv.labs.arxiv.org/html/2201.12271

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The CCP's Digital Charm Offensive: How TikTok's Search Algorithm and Pro-China Influence Networks Indoctrinate GenZ Users in the United States

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English

Topic

Information Operation

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Network Contagion Research Institute

Date Published: Aug 8, 2024

Abstract: In December 2023, the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) published an initial report that found a strong possibility of content on TikTok being either amplified or suppressed based on its alignment with the interests of the Chinese Government. The report concluded with a warning: “should future research find that TikTok users exhibit attitudes and assessments of world events aligned with these information distortions, democracies will need to consider appropriate countermeasures to protect information integrity and mitigate potential real-world impacts.” These findings underscored the urgency of investigating the specific mechanisms and broader implications of potential algorithmic manipulations. While our initial study shed light on the potential for content manipulation on TikTok, it did not explore whether specific moderation algorithms or practices are used to suppress topics sensitive to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Moreover, it did not compare the nature and impact of pro- and anti-CCP content across other major social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube. This current report addresses these gaps by providing a more comprehensive analysis of TikTok's moderation practices, examining the nature and prevalence of CCP-sensitive content, and evaluating how different platforms handle such content. Furthermore, this study explores the association between social media platform usage and pro-CCP attitudes among users. By combining user journey data, survey research, and cross-platform comparisons, we uncover the extent to which TikTok and other platforms may influence user perceptions and behaviors in favor of the CCP. The publication of this research precedes the delivery of oral arguments for TikTok Inc. and ByteDance Ltd. v. Merrick B. Garland, a federal court case that has subjected the TikTok algorithm to intensive new scrutiny. As detailed in the DOJ’s response to TikTok’s lawsuit, “covert content manipulation” is an area of legal interest for the DOJ, not to mention its relevance to the broader U.S. intelligence and national security community. That said, within the DOJ response it is noted that definitively proving covert content manipulation by the Chinese government remains a challenge. As FBI Director Wray testified to in multiple hearings, “[t]his sort of manipulation of the algorithm would be difficult to detect..."1 This research gap sets the stage for our findings, which, while not definitive proof of state orchestration, present compelling and strong circumstantial evidence of TikTok’s covert content manipulation. In response to the DOJ's acknowledgment of challenges in proving manipulation by the Chinese government, our findings present the following circumstantial evidence: • Algorithmic Bias: TikTok's algorithms consistently amplify pro-CCP content and suppress anti-CCP narratives. • Content Origination: Much of the pro-CCP content originates from state-linked entities, including media outlets and influencers. • Psychological Impact: Survey data shows significant shifts in user attitudes towards China, especially among heavy TikTok users, indicating successful indoctrination. These points collectively indicate a systematic manipulation of information, suggesting that propaganda produced by state actors and orchestrated through assets owned or influenced by them shapes user perceptions at a massive scale.

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The CCP's Digital Charm Offensive: How TikTok's Search Algorithm and Pro-China Influence Networks Indoctrinate GenZ Users in the United States

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