TikTok Echo Chambers Fuel Divisive narratives on Gaza War, Report Finds
WASHINGTON – A new report reveals starkly different approaches to discussing the Gaza war on TikTok, with pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian content existing in largely separate online ecosystems, and a significant decline in cross-outlook engagement. The study, released by “Cybersecurity for Democracy,” highlights how the platform’s increasingly decentralized nature is fostering ideological isolation rather than the open debate once envisioned for social media.
The report found that pro-Israel posts on TikTok tended to focus on discussions of antisemitism and employed “short, entertainment-oriented” responses to criticism of Israel. Conversely, pro-Palestinian content largely centered on news coverage, such as the Israeli government’s evacuation orders in Gaza City and a recent protest by U.S. veterans in Washington D.C. against American involvement in the conflict.
Researchers observed a distinct lack of overlap between the two sides. Few videos utilized both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian hashtags, and users rarely responded directly to content from those holding opposing views. Instead, according to researcher Renee edelson, posters often addressed an “imaginary enemy.”
“I think people remember arguing on Twitter with people who had seriously different views… or even arguing with their uncle on Facebook about something,” Edelson said. “It’s just not what social media is today.” She explained that while content appears argumentative, it’s frequently enough directed at an audience that already agrees, rendering genuine debate unlikely. “People still create content that makes it sound like they’re arguing with someone, but the person they’re theoretically arguing with will never see that video.”
The findings reflect a broader trend identified in the report: a shift away from the “digital town square” model of social media, where users were routinely exposed to diverse viewpoints. As platforms become more fragmented, users increasingly gravitate towards spaces reinforcing their existing beliefs.
The report underscores the challenges of fostering constructive dialog around contentious political issues in the current social media landscape.
The study was authored by Naomi Nix, an editor at The Washington Post covering Meta and other social media companies, and previously a reporter at Bloomberg News and the Chicago Tribune. The article was originally published on Washingtonpost.com on October 7, 2025.
