The study “The TikTok Problem: A Study of Cognitive Warfare” presents a comprehensive analysis of the TikTok platform as a tool of cognitive warfare and a major strategic vulnerability for European democracies. The report warns that this application, used by approximately a third of European voters, not only massively harvests user data but also enables authoritarian regimes to purposefully manipulate public opinion through its non-transparent algorithm. Through case studies, the document demonstrates the platform’s abuse in spreading disinformation, censoring inconvenient content, and influencing democratic processes. Using the case of the elections to the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic (2025), the report analyzes the functioning of TikTok’s algorithm and the amplification of anti-systemic content.
In addition to geopolitical threats and ties to the People’s Republic of China, the study highlights the hidden behavioral and psychological risks faced primarily by the youngest generation. The network’s addictive design demonstrably contributes to the deterioration of youth mental health, facilitates algorithmic radicalization, and accelerates the spread of dangerous viral challenges and extremist content. The report thus provides not only a cautionary academic insight into the platform’s operations but also offers a set of concrete political and legislative recommendations—ranging from the protection of children in schools to the systemic regulation of large online platforms—on how democratic societies can effectively protect their information space and security.