By Saria Ratnam

Copyright theage

The same thing has happened in the US, and it’s clear that the role of social media in politics will only grow in coming years – which is one of the reasons that Rupert Murdoch’s plan to become one of TikTok’s new US owners is so concerning.

Of all the billionaires who could have acquired a stake in TikTok, Murdoch has what is probably the least transparent and most extreme political agenda. It’s not hard to guess what kind of political content will be amplified, and what will be censored, on a platform he owns.

TikTok is already known for creating political echo-chambers; its algorithm pushes users towards content that aligns with their values. And, on top of this, research has shown that right-wing platforms perform better in social media’s “attention economy”. The rise in populism and extremism among young people has been attributed to these factors; Murdoch’s influence is likely to make this far worse. That it will happen on the platform where almost half of all young people get their political information is even more concerning.

It’s not just political information that is funnelled through social media – it’s also truth. Multiple friends of mine have fallen down bizarre conspiracy-theory rabbit holes, believing rumours about underground Hollywood tunnels or Beyonce being a murderer. Even more have been susceptible to subtler, more insidious disinformation such as strange health trends, diets and dangerous DIY skincare regimens.