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The war on fake news is occurring in tandem with the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Due to the high level of misinformation, all footage and news related to the conflict must be scrutinized. It has been observed that video game footage is frequently combined with more dramatic audio clips from real-life crimes. Another viral video depicted a girl applying blood makeup to a young man in order to create the illusion of a fake war on Ukraine.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has resulted in a flood of misleading content on TikTok. The app, which has one billion users, enhances footage depicting past conflicts, movies, and video game sequences as if they were real-life incidents. TikTok's design is "incompatible" with the era, according to Media Matters, an advocacy organization.
While TikTok has committed to combat disinformation in recent years, the network's fast rise to fame as a significant social media platform, as well as some of its unique features, have made it a breeding soil for false information.
"Go viral," the evil TikTok slogan that consolidated emotional and attention seeking. Using a time of conflict or war to scam people for fame, some went so far as to turn TikTok fake videos into a donation platform, allowing them to profit from people's suffering.
According to USA Today, Russia has used TikTok to spread false and misleading information about Ukraine. Furthermore, an analyst network that tracks misinformation claims a "sudden and dramatic increase in anti-Ukrainian content" on platforms like Twitter and Facebook, particularly in the days leading up to the invasion.
TikTok has become the most-followed source of news in Ukraine and Russia, with millions of videos going viral. Although TikTok's community guidelines state that it prohibits misinformation "that causes harm to individuals," such as videos inciting hatred or prejudice, a quick browse through TikTok will leave you feeling as if those guidelines have vanished. Several videos have emerged from Ukraine that depicts scenes that are both bloody and call for hate or prejudice.
TikTok does not allow any content that depicts violence or graphic images. TikTok may not remove content depicting graphic deaths, accidents, or fights in certain situations. Since this content isn't appropriate for all audiences, it will not be eligible for recommendation, and the content will include an "opt-in" screen or warning. Content that may cause viewers discomfort, shock, or disgust, such as scary effects, jump scares, makeup that realistically replicates gory wounds, or depictions of bodily functions, may be ineligible for the FYF (For your Feed).
TikTok spokeswoman Hilary McQuaide told AP that the company works with independent fact-checkers to help identify inauthentic and unsafe content. She stated that those efforts had been re-energized in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"We continue to closely monitor the situation, with increased resources to respond to emerging trends and remove violative content, including harmful misinformation and promotion of violence," McQuaide said.
TikTok assured that, in response to the Ukrainian crisis, the company is expediting the rollout of its state media policy to ensure that the community is aware of the context of problematic content and that the platform follows a consistent process to enforce its policy.
Misbar’s Sources:
Misbar
MediaMatters
Kuow
NBC
NewsroomTikTok
NPR
TikTok
USA TODAY
