Landtagswahl Sachsen-Anhalt - welche Rolle spielt TikTok?
Summary
This report explores the "Dein Feed, Deine Wahl" project, which investigates how TikTok algorithms influence voter behavior ahead of upcoming German state elections. Researchers from the Weizenbaum Institute collect user data at a festival in Saxony-Anhalt to analyze personalized feeds, as platforms do not disclose their algorithmic logic. The study aims to verify if the algorithm favors extreme content, noting that the AfD currently dominates TikTok engagement in the region.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Social media influence on upcoming elections
Scene setting: Weizenbaum Institute at a festival in Halle
Project goal: Analyzing TikTok feeds for voting behavior
Methodology: Using user data to study opaque algorithms
Research approach: Reverse-engineering algorithmic bias
Participant feedback: Personal usage profiles and animal tiers
Data requirements: Need for 600 diverse data donors
On-site recruitment: Engaging young users at the festival
Case study: Analyzing a participant's 19,800 video sessions
Visualizing results: Word clouds and political content frequency
Current stats: AfD dominance in clicks and engagement
Historical comparison: Shift in party performance on TikTok
Conclusion: Real-world campaign activities and reportage
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