Parliament intends to manage the "digital bar" TikTok
The German Bundestag is making a bold move into the world of social media, announcing its intention to join TikTok. This decision comes after the AfD, a political party, initially established a presence on the platform.
Julia Klöckner, the Bundestag President, has been a strong advocate for this shift. She believes that the Bundestag should be on TikTok to inform the public about its work and present the parliament in a transparent manner. The goal is to offer citizens trustworthy sources for comprehensive and serious information about parliamentary events, the work of the Bundestag, and the institution.
Wolfgang Kubicki, a former Vice President of the Bundestag, supports Klöckner's social media activities and finds them great.
However, the decision to use TikTok for political communication has sparked debates. The concern is that the platform's focus on short, often entertaining videos may undermine the seriousness and depth of parliamentary debate, reducing complex political discussions into superficial soundbites for social media appeal. This is a trend seen in other national legislatures, such as France’s Assemblée Nationale, where some MPs post short, edited clips of their speeches on TikTok featuring subtitles, background music, and catchy lines to engage viewers.
Beyond these concerns about the appropriateness and impact on parliamentary practice, there are broader issues linked to using TikTok for political communication. These include the potential amplification of disinformation, the targeting and harassment of politicians, especially women, via online abuse, and the challenges of balancing entertainment with responsible storytelling.
Despite these concerns, the Bundestag is forging ahead, citing the platform's influence in reaching younger demographics as a key factor in their decision. Julia Klöckner has emphasized that TikTok is a platform with a significant number of people who get informed nowhere else.
The Bundestag is already active on multiple platforms, including Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), Mastodon, Bluesky, and LinkedIn. However, the public authorities of the federal government still have a strong recommendation from the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI) not to use TikTok on official devices due to data protection concerns.
Despite these concerns, the Bundestag's presence on TikTok is aimed at reaching a younger audience, as fewer people have a printed newspaper at home. The German federal government started its first TikTok channel under @TeamBundeskanzler in April last year, and the Bundestag is now following suit.
The Bundestag's presence on TikTok is seen as a modern and widely visible public relations effort for the Bundestag. Klöckner's social media activities are believed to create acceptance for the entire political apparatus. However, it is important to note that the public authorities of the federal government still have reservations about TikTok due to data protection concerns.
Worldwide, TikTok had over 1.5 billion monthly active users last year, and in Germany, it was used by approximately 21 million people. As the Bundestag joins TikTok, it will be interesting to see how this new form of political communication evolves and how it impacts the democratic process.
[1] The Guardian [2] BBC News [3] Deutsche Welle [4] Reuters
- The Bundestag's decision to join TikTok for service and communication, particularly in delivering general news, social-media entertainment, and serious political discussions, raises questions about the appropriateness and potential impact on parliamentary practice.
- Juniors are the target demographic for the Bundestag's TikTok account, as it seeks to connect with a younger audience who may not have a printed newspaper at home or access traditional news channels, indicating a shift towards service and communication on this social media platform.
