TikTok bans political ads ahead of 2025 PH elections

FILE PHOTO

In today’s digital age, TikTok has steadily risen in popularity, offering short-form, easily digestible videos that captivate a wide audience, particularly those with shorter attention spans.

The platform’s ability to deliver quick, engaging content has made it a go-to for entertainment, creativity and even education.

However, along with its numerous benefits, TikTok has also faced criticism for its role in the spread of disinformation and fake news. Its viral nature makes it easy for misleading content to circulate rapidly, contributing to the growing infodemic, where false information spreads faster than it can be corrected.

This dual nature of TikTok presents both opportunities and challenges in shaping public perception and knowledge.

Banning political advertisements for the 2025 midterm elections, the social media platform has taken a decisive step to help curb disinformation.

This action forms part of a larger collaboration with social media platforms committed to supporting the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in ensuring a fair and accurate electoral process.

During a ceremonial pledge of support, TikTok joined forces with Google, which also announced it would block political ads during the campaign period.

Google’s government affairs and public policy head, Yves Gonzalez, reiterated the company’s goal to prevent the spread of false information and foreign interference, aiming to protect the integrity of the elections.

Meta Philippines followed suit, with public policy manager Nixon David stressing the importance of safeguarding users from misinformation.

David shared that Meta continuously updates its tools to detect emerging threats while limiting the spread of misleading content. This reflects the platform’s commitment to creating a safe online space during elections.

As the 2025 midterms near, the involvement of major platforms such as TikTok, Google and Meta marks a crucial effort to shield the public from the dangers of disinformation.

Their combined efforts, alongside Comelec’s ongoing campaign, aim to ensure a transparent electoral process where voters can engage with trustworthy information.

This unified move underscores the growing responsibility of tech companies in shaping the political landscape and signals their role in fostering a more informed and secure digital environment for the elections.