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Bundestag jumps on TikTok bandwagon: does it create trust among young people?
In 2025, the Bundestag plans to use TikTok for political education in order to better reach young people and counter misinformation.
Bundestag jumps on TikTok bandwagon: does it create trust among young people?
The Bundestag is planning to take a new course in digital communication and wants to use the platform more in the future TikTok become active. Bundestag President Julia Klöckner is firmly convinced that it makes sense to present the work of Parliament on this popular platform. After all, many young people are there to get information - an exciting target group, especially because printed newspapers are losing importance.
With a monthly user base of around 21 million in Germany and over 1.5 billion worldwide, TikTok is no longer just a playground for young people. What is particularly striking is that the 18 to 24 year old age group makes up an impressive 38% of users, followed by 29% of 13 to 17 year olds and 25% of 25 to 34 year olds, like bpb.de turns out.
Politics and TikTok in harmony
Given the popularity of this platform, the Bundestag has big plans. Klöckner emphasizes the need to provide trustworthy information about parliamentary processes. TikTok aims to create entertaining, informative videos, but there are also concerns about misinformation and privacy issues. The Federal Commissioner for Data Protection has repeatedly advised not to use the app on work devices. TikTok has responded to such criticism and promotes political content with the help of the “#LernenMitTikTok” program, which financially supports creators of explanatory videos.
This area of tension between entertainment and responsible use of information should not be underestimated. How medienpolitik.net reports, TikTok is increasingly becoming a platform for political discourse, especially for young voters. A project by BR Research and partners aims to shed light on the role of TikTok in the political context as young people are increasingly drawn to political content.
Enthusiasm and concerns
Acceptance of political content varied: On TikTok it is not always easy to see a clear difference between neutral reporting and active political engagement. An example of a non-party voice is Nina Poppel (@nini_erklaert_politik), who reaches a wide audience with 110,000 followers. However, the AfD is also strongly represented on this platform, and the federal government has its own channel under @TeamBundeskanzler, on which Chancellor Friedrich Merz answers questions in video formats.
With recent developments, it's clear: TikTok is no longer just a place for dance videos and challenges; it is increasingly becoming a venue for the formation of political opinions. The fast-paced and often emotionally charged nature of the content promises to stimulate interest in political issues, but there is also a risk of under-complexity. This requires sensitivity – both from the creators and the users.
What remains is an exciting experiment as to how Parliament can use the digital stage for its own benefit and whether it can master the juggling act between providing information and entertainment. Only the future will show whether this strategy proves to be the right one or whether important content gets lost in the background.