Social Science Research Council Research AMP Just Tech
Citation

Toxic politics and TikTok engagement in the 2024 U.S. election

Author:
Biswas, Ahana; Sabet, Alireza Javadian; Lin, Yu-Ru
Publication:
Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review
Year:
2025

What kinds of political content thrive on TikTok during an election year? Our analysis of 51,680 political videos from the 2024 U.S. presidential cycle reveals that toxic and partisan content consistently attracts more user engagement—despite ongoing moderation efforts. Posts about immigration and election fraud, in particular, draw high levels of toxicity and attention. While Republican-leaning