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Network Contagion Research Institute Intelligence Report 21 To better understand the relationship between mass manipulation of content and potential impacts on underlying user psychology/attitudes, NCRI ran a survey through Amazon’s Prime Panels Service (n=1214) wherein respondents reported on their daily social media platform use. Survey questions were developed to probe positive/negative perceptions of China’s human rights records, as well as subjects’ feelings about China as a travel destination (informed by NCRI’s analysis of putative CCP information operations which strongly featured travel/culture influencers). To disguise the purpose of the survey from subjects, these questions were randomized with similar questions regarding numerous countries. When controlling for age, among the video-streaming platforms we studied, TikTok use significantly and uniquely predicted more positive perceptions of China’s human rights record (β = .21, t(4.51), p < .0001; see Figure 13 and Appendix II). This was particularly notable for heavy users (those who use 3 or more hours on the platform daily) who showed a 49% increase in positivity towards China’s human rights records relative to non-users. By contrast, use of YouTube and Instagram showed no significant relationship on users’ perception of China’s human rights record. Similarly, TikTok use, unlike Instagram and YouTube use, significantly predicted more positive perceptions of China as a travel destination (β = .17, p < .0001; see Figure 14 and Appendix II) and further, predicted users would agree with the statement that “Tiananmen square is mostly known for being a popular travel destination” (β = .18, p < .0001; see Appendix II). These findings were also especially notable for heavy users, with such users showing a 41% increase

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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

Author(s)

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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