Bundestag relies on TikTok: Young voters are conquering the digital stage!

Bundestag relies on TikTok: Young voters are conquering the digital stage!

In an exciting twist, the Bundestag plans to expand its social media activities and also use the TikTok platform in the future. Bundestag President Julia Klöckner has emphasized how important it is to get in touch with young people via TikTok, as this platform is very popular with the younger generation. Many of these young users no longer obtain information through printed newspapers, which are becoming less and less widespread, but through modern channels that offer faster and more entertaining content. Loud Radio Leverkusen TikTok is intended to be used to publish short, informative videos, even though the platform is known for its susceptibility to misinformation.

However, the safety concerns are significant. TikTok is owned by Chinese company Bytedance, which raises concerns about privacy and data security. The Federal Commissioner for Data Protection has recommended not using TikTok on work devices. This shows how important it is to be aware of the risks involved the German Bundestag highlights. It should be noted here that the Bundestag assumes no liability for the behavior of social networks and encourages users to carefully check what personal data they are willing to share.

The reach of the platform

What is striking is TikTok's enormous reach in Germany: last year, the platform enjoyed around 21 million active users per month. In international comparison, more than 1.5 billion people are active worldwide. Politicians have also recognized this trend. The AfD is particularly active on TikTok, while the federal government also has a presence with the channel @TeamBundeskanzler. In the video formats, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz answers questions from citizens and explains his point of view.

Another positive aspect that Wolfgang Kubicki, the former Vice President of the Bundestag, points out is the opportunity to improve the parliament's public relations work through Klöckner's initiative. The Bundestag is not only active on TikTok, but also on Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), Mastodon, Bluesky and LinkedIn. The aim of these social media activities is to provide trustworthy sources of information about parliamentary events.

The challenges of the digital world

At a time when social media has an enormous influence on social debates, there are also calls for these platforms to be regulated. In the run-up to the first digital ministerial conference of the federal states in Potsdam, an alliance of civil society organizations called for stricter controls and higher standards to be introduced for the algorithms of social networks. These algorithms determine what content users consume and communicate. This shows that digitalization brings not only opportunities but also challenges, especially with regard to freedom of expression and the responsible handling of personal data, such as this ZDF reported.

The upcoming Digital Ministers Conference will address topics such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital growth. At the same time, the German Association of Judges is calling for faster digitalization of the judicial authorities. The need for faster approval procedures for fiber optic expansion is also discussed. These developments show that Germany has a long way to go in order not to be left behind in the digital age, while at the same time protecting data and user rights.