Political manipulation amplified on TikTok, expert says fear is the most effective tool

TikTok has become a primary platform for political messaging, with a recent report revealing sophisticated mechanisms amplifying political manipulation during the spring 2026 government crisis. An analysis of 23,599 viral political videos published between January and May 2026 uncovered coordinated amplification networks, inauthentic accounts, and campaigns designed to exploit negative emotions and public distrust.

During April 1 to May 11, 2026, the monitored videos garnered over 101 million views, nearly 830,000 shares, and tens of thousands of comments. The research indicated that more than half of the analyzed comments were identical, and over 53% of followers on monitored accounts belonged to inactive profiles. Communication strategy expert Radu Delicote told "Adevărul" that this phenomenon transcends traditional online propaganda, evolving into manipulation tailored for algorithms and psychographic targeting.

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We are clearly discussing algorithms. We are discussing TikTok's algorithms, but not only. And Instagram and Facebook algorithms also have different amplification recipes. When an algorithm identifies content that can generate reaction and emotion, it amplifies it. It lacks the cognitive capacity to distinguish if the message is true, manipulative, or false. It is built to sell.

"We are clearly discussing algorithms. We are discussing TikTok's algorithms, but not only. Instagram and Facebook algorithms also have different amplification recipes," Delicote explained. "When an algorithm identifies content that can generate reaction and emotion, it amplifies it. It lacks the cognitive capacity to distinguish if the message is true, manipulative, or false. It is built to sell."

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Voting is emotional. There is nothing rational in stamping one candidate or another. Everything is emotional. And the best-selling emotions are negative ones, primarily fear and all its derivatives: distrust, lack of belonging, the feeling that someone is taking something from you.

Delicote stated that during electoral periods or political tensions, the coordination level of these campaigns reaches "9 or 10 on a scale of 1 to 10." The report highlighted that most widely distributed messages during the analyzed period focused on anti-EU, anti-government, and anti-system themes. Key targets included President Nicușor Dan, former Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, USR, the European Union, Ukraine, and the Republic of Moldova.

According to Delicote, the success of these messages stems from their exploitation of fear and distrust. "Voting is emotional. There is nothing rational in stamping one candidate or another. Everything is emotional. And the best-selling emotions are negative ones, primarily fear and all its derivatives: distrust, lack of belonging, the feeling that someone is taking something from you," he said. He likened online manipulation to "a drill that enters the wall very simply," noting that messages built on anxiety and conflict quickly mobilize the electorate. One prevalent narrative on TikTok suggested Romania was being economically exploited by the European Union.

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9 or 10 on a scale of 1 to 10