TikTok and the 2024 Election: A New Frontier

In the run-up to the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election, TikTok has become an unexpected playground for political chatter. With its burst of videos and trending Hashtags, this social media platform has captured the interest of voters, especially younger ones. Researchers decided to dive into this ocean of content, collecting over 3 million TikTok videos to study how users engage with political topics. Let’s take a closer look at the findings, shall we?

#The TikTok Dataset

The dataset, dubbed the TikTok 2024 U.S. Presidential Election Dataset, includes a whopping 3.14 million videos. These videos were posted between November 1, 2023, and October 16, 2024. It consists of video IDs, transcripts, and lots of juicy hashtags. Researchers used TikTok’s Research API to gather this data, which was like fishing with a big net. However, they also had to rely on some third-party tools to catch everything that the API couldn’t reach.

By gathering all this information, researchers aim to gain insights into how political messages spread and how people interact with these messages through likes, comments, and shares. They want to know who is saying what and how often, which is crucial for understanding the current political climate.

#Social Media and Politics

Social media has completely changed how we talk about elections and politics. Long gone are the days when candidates could rely solely on TV ads and flyers. Now, with just a few taps on a phone screen, anyone can share their thoughts on candidates, policies, and political events.

TikTok, in particular, has become a unique platform for this kind of discourse. Its short, catchy videos encourage quick reactions, memes, and other fun ways to discuss serious issues. Many candidates noticed this wave of change and decided to join the TikTok party. For instance, Donald Trump made a splash by joining the platform and racking up millions of followers within days. Meanwhile, Joe Biden took to TikTok with over 200 videos, hopping on the bandwagon with a smile.

#The Data Collection Process

Researchers collected data in phases, each aligned with major political events. They used the TikTok Research API to gather key details like video descriptions, Engagement Metrics, and hashtags. They set up specific date ranges for data collection to capture everything happening in the election cycle.

After gathering the metadata, they decided to add the cherry on top: transcripts. They used a tool called PykTok to download the videos while another tool called OpenAI Whisper helped them create readable transcripts. Together, they made sure to have a comprehensive dataset.

#Exploring the Discourse

Now that researchers have all this data, what do they want to do with it? The plan is to uncover patterns and trends in how people discuss political events and candidates on TikTok. It’s like putting on a detective hat and solving the mystery of online political chatter.

One major goal is to identify coordinated messaging among political figures. Are candidates collaborating to spread the same message? Are supporters banding together to push certain hashtags? By answering these questions, researchers can get a clearer picture of how opinions are formed and influenced.

#Hashtags and Engagement

Hashtags play a crucial role in organizing discussions on social media. They help users find relevant content and connect with others interested in similar topics. The dataset revealed a variety of hashtags related to the election. Some hashtags showed support for Donald Trump, such as #MAGA, while others leaned toward Joe Biden and the Democratic Party.

Researchers found that Republican hashtags led the charge in terms of overall volume. The data showed that conversations skewed heavily toward Republican themes, especially on certain peak dates during the election cycle. Meanwhile, Democratic hashtags still managed to make their presence known, although they were often overshadowed.

#Language Matters

Not everyone speaks English fluently, and that’s something the researchers took into account. They used a tool called LangDetect to find out which languages were used in the TikTok transcripts. Unsurprisingly, English topped the list, but Spanish was also present. This opens up an exciting opportunity to explore the multilingual conversations happening on TikTok, especially considering how diverse the U.S. electorate is.

#Trends and Themes

As the data rolled in, researchers began spotting trends in the types of discussions occurring on TikTok. Topics like immigration, social issues, and even conspiracy theories popped up frequently. Through topic modeling, they categorized conversations and discovered that users were hungry for discussions about everything from government responses to gun violence.

Interestingly, political figures were hot topics too. Donald Trump’s legal troubles and Joe Biden’s administration both garnered significant attention. It’s safe to say that these candidates are keeping TikTok users on their toes, whether they’re cheering or jeering from the sidelines.

#Misinformation and Its Spread

One of the key areas of concern in the world of social media and politics is misinformation. TikTok is no stranger to this issue. Researchers are keen on analyzing how false information travels across the platform. By examining hashtags, comments, and engagement metrics, they hope to shed light on how misinformation spreads and where it originates.

The conversation around misinformation is critical, especially as political campaigns ramp up. The goal is to identify patterns so that voters can become more discerning consumers of information. After all, a well-informed electorate is crucial for a healthy democracy.

#Audience Engagement

Understanding how users engage with political content is another major focus. Are TikTok users watching these videos, sharing them, or leaving comments? The dataset allows researchers to analyze these engagement metrics closely.

High engagement rates often indicate that users are not just passive viewers; they’re actively involved in discussions, sharing their opinions, and influencing others. This kind of interaction can impact Political Discourse, especially in a time when many young people are taking to social media to express their feelings about candidates and policies.

#Future Directions

The journey doesn’t stop here. Data collection will continue until a week after Inauguration Day in January 2025. Researchers plan to dig deeper into comments and replies, so they have a complete picture of online discourse surrounding the election.

They also plan to update their dataset regularly, ensuring it remains relevant and useful for ongoing studies. With every new video and interaction, more insights will emerge about how TikTok shapes political discussions and influences voters.

#Conclusion

As the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election approaches, TikTok is proving to be a significant player in the political arena. This platform allows for fun and engaging ways to discuss serious topics, attracting the attention of millions of users. Researchers collecting and analyzing TikTok content are unveiling the dynamics of political communication in our digital age. By understanding these conversations, they aim to contribute to a richer understanding of how social media impacts democracy.

So, the next time you scroll through TikTok and see a political video, remember: there’s a whole team of researchers out there trying to piece together the puzzle of your online political discussions. Who knew that scrolling could be so meaningful?