The White House has invited social stars to attend a meeting to understand the Ukraine crisis. However, these stars may challenge the official language used by the White House. The White House has connected with popular influencers a number of times since Vice President Joe Biden became president. In June, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki briefed some of the social stars on Biden’s American Families Plan.
TikTok creators explain events in Ukraine
As the war in Ukraine continues, TikTok creators explain events in their native language in the form of a video, helping viewers understand the conflict from a personal perspective. The war videos have gone viral, with some creators getting 41 million views. In addition, they provide viewers with a glimpse of life in Ukraine during wartime.
TikTok creators have taken to explaining the situation in their own unique way, using choppy aesthetic norms and upbeat dialects to tell their stories. One video, for example, refers to Russia as “Big Bank P,” while another refers to Ukraine as “Yuki.” Other videos have been used to strengthen national resolve and highlight stories of bravery.
A White House official explained the reasoning behind the briefing to CNN, pointing out that the Russian government has paid TikTok creators to promote its narrative of the conflict in Ukraine. The briefings come as reports suggest that some Russian influencers have been paid to promote the Putin narrative. CNN did not immediately respond to a request for comment. TikTok creators have previously been engaged by the White House to counter misinformation about the conflict. Last year, health care officials joined the TikTok influencers to promote vaccination for youth in the Ukraine.
The Russian invasion in Ukraine has triggered numerous viral videos on TikTok, and millions of people are turning to the platform to learn about the conflict. In some cases, the videos have given the first glimpses of what life was like in the war-torn country. However, the proliferation of Russian propaganda and misinformation has caused concerns.
One TikTok creator who has become influential in the conflict is Money Kristina Korban. She has been the go-to source for those outside of Ukraine. People ask her every hour of the day whether she and her family are safe. While she has been banned from posting new TikToks, she has managed to set up a backup account.
Two TikTok creators have been able to take advantage of this opportunity to raise awareness about the crisis. The videos are short and to the point, but they have an audience of millions of viewers.
Misinformation circulating on the platform
As the Ukraine crisis continues to unfold, millions of users have turned to TikTok for information about the situation. TikTok videos provided the first glimpses of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the social media platform has emerged as one of the main outlets for news worldwide. During the conflict, many Ukrainian citizens have posted stories from their bomb shelters on the platform. However, the platform has also become the home of dangerous misinformation. Russian propaganda has gained a foothold on TikTok.
While Facebook and Twitter have removed many of the videos, others remain on the platform, and have gathered hundreds of thousands of views. As the Russian-led forces have struggled to win the information war against Ukraine’s social media-savvy president, they have turned to new avenues to spread propaganda and misinformation. For instance, Russia has pretended to be a left-leaning progressive media outlet in Germany to disseminate fake news about Ukrainian citizens. In addition to this, the Russian-sponsored network has coordinated TikTok campaigns.
While some TikTok videos purport to show footage of the conflict in Ukraine, many are fake, with old video footage or videos from other conflicts. This kind of content undermines public trust in the media and bolsters misinformation on the platform. Therefore, it is essential to check video content and verify information before sharing it with others.
In a bid to regain the trust of viewers in its livestreaming and content-sharing services, Tiktok has temporarily banned live streams and uploads from Russia. This move follows Netflix’s move to ban content from Russia. This move could help limit the flow of Russian propaganda and limit access to information that is not controlled by the Russian government. However, the long-term consequences of such a decision are still unclear.
Another example of misinformation circulating on TikTok Stars’ Ukrainian platform is an audio clip from a Russian military unit. The audio clip was used in several TikTok videos. Some of these videos included a note claiming that the men were killed in the conflict. However, Ukrainian officials later released a statement on Facebook saying that the men were alive.
Influencers’ views on the war in Ukraine
Influencers are often divided over their views on the war in Ukraine. Some are pro-Russian, while others are anti-Russian. The former group, led by Ukrainian political party members, criticizes the government’s lack of preparation for the war, which led to huge human losses and the capture of Ukrainian territory by the Russian Federation. Meanwhile, the latter group advocates an investigation of the war’s causes, believing that this is the only way to establish accountability after the conflict is over.
Some influencers have embraced the conflict as an opportunity to spread their views and gain credibility. While the Kremlin is blocking social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, there are still gaps in their efforts to censor outside information. Recently, the Russian prosecutor general’s office filed a lawsuit against a social media company that allowed Russian-sponsored content to portray Russian troops invading Ukraine. The White House’s embrace of influencers is a recognition of the importance of TikTok and other social media platforms.
Despite the fact that the war in Ukraine has left many people surprised, the conflict has also presented some challenges to traditional assessments of economic and military power. For example, while Russia has the military advantage in many areas, it has not been able to accomplish its initial objectives due to Ukrainian forces holding them back. This suggests a change in the nature of power.
Influencers’ views on the war in the Ukraine are often misinformed. Kremlin-backed outlets have portrayed the conflict as a way to protect their people and undermine the Ukrainian government. In addition, Russian-backed separatists have been fighting the Ukrainian government for control of the eastern Donbas region. The Russian leader has called this ongoing conflict “genocide.”
Some of the most prominent accounts of the war in Ukraine are from influential individuals with large social media followings. These include former politicians, regional leaders and popular celebrities. Some are very well-known, while others are relatively unknown.
The White House’s response to the information war on TikTok
The White House is trying to fight the misinformation that is flooding social media. To do this, the administration has reached out to social media influencers. A number of TikTok creators have met with government officials to talk about the crisis in Ukraine. They were briefed on the situation and the US response. These YouTube creators are a valuable source of news for many young people. They have hundreds of thousands of followers.
Since the Russians attacked Ukraine this week, TikTok users have been at the forefront of spreading information about the conflict. Their videos have shown the aftermath of bombings and the effects of economic sanctions. The US has been trying to capitalize on the popularity of these social media influencers to get the word out about the conflict. In a recent meeting with the creators, White House officials provided them with the latest information about the situation in Ukraine and answered questions from the audience.
The Biden administration has drafted a preliminary agreement with TikTok. While negotiations between the government and the video app company have stalled over the technical details of the app, they have moved closer to a detailed agreement in recent months. The deal would require TikTok to make some changes to ensure that American citizens’ data is secure. However, the government is still not yet able to decide whether or not to approve the deal.
In the meantime, the White House has been closely monitoring the rise of TikTok as a major news source. In an effort to combat the misinformation, the administration has reached out to a handful of TikTok influencers to gather information. The group partnered with a nonprofit advocacy group called Gen Z for Change to identify the top TikTok content creators and has already interviewed dozens of them.
In a recent Zoom call, the White House briefed about 30 of the most popular TikTok creators about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The meeting was led by Jen Psaki and Matt Miller and covered the US strategic goals in Eastern Europe, how the US would respond to a nuclear escalation by Russia, and how millions of dollars of aid are being provided to the Ukraine.