ABUJA, JUN 13: Boko Haram factions, among several extremist groups, are increasingly turning to TikTok and other social media platforms for propaganda, mocking authorities and posting content linked to kidnappings and violence, a growing concern with digital security in Nigeria.
An online video linked to Boko Haram showed abducted victims, accusing the government of minimising casualty figures before it was removed. It marks a broader shift in terrorism, with groups using algorithm-driven platforms to amplify their messages, recruit followers and normalise extremist narratives, outpacing traditional content moderation, experts say.
Since TikTok’s rapid global expansion, researchers and law enforcement agencies have documented how extremist actors exploit the platform’s recommendation-driven ecosystem to amplify propaganda and expand their reach. Analysts said that fragmented institutional coordination, lack of real-time monitoring and weak digital governance leave major gaps that extremist actors continue to exploit.
