Amplifying Positive Voices on TikTok

UNDP

Introduction

UNDP's Journey into TikTok

Services
Issue Research, Program Design, Capacity Building, Workshops, Trainings, Creative Communications
Issues
Misinformation, Intolerance, Polarisation, Youth Development

As TikTok gained popularity in Southeast Asia, it also became a breeding ground for online hate speech, ranging from racism to socio-economic and religious discrimination. This troubling trend threatened to undermine the platform’s potential for positive community engagement.

Response

In response, Love Frankie, in partnership with UNDP, launched the "Creators Forward" initiative. This program harnessed the influence of 19 top TikTok creators from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines, who collectively reached 25 million followers.

The project aimed to transform these creators into proactive advocates against hate speech through a series of strategic interventions:

  • Educational Workshops: Creators attended sessions that deepened their understanding of the dynamics of online hate and equipped them with strategies to promote positive messaging.
     
  • Collaborative Opportunities: A Regional Summit in Bangkok provided a platform for these creators to share experiences and learn from each other, fostering a collaborative approach to content creation.
  • Creative Campaigns: Backed by insights from 7 local Civil Society Organizations, the creators produced 95 impactful videos aimed at combating hate speech and promoting social cohesion, which collectively garnered more than 17 million views.

Outcome

The "Creators Forward" initiative not only educated and empowered individual creators but also sparked a broader movement on TikTok towards more responsible and positive content. The engagement and reach of these videos demonstrated the potential of creative collaboration to reshape public discourse and promote a more inclusive online environment.

Conclusion

By turning challenges into opportunities for creative advocacy, "Creators Forward" exemplifies how targeted interventions can leverage the power of social media influencers to foster a more respectful and supportive digital community.