May 27th 2024.
It's quite unexpected to see some familiar names on the popular social media platform, TikTok, in the midst of all the election buzz. Keir Starmer, Rishi Sunak, and the late Cilla Black have all joined in on the election action on TikTok. What's even more surprising is that both the Conservative and Labour parties have only recently created their accounts, with neither being more than a week old. It's quite astonishing to think that even Paul Chuckle has been using TikTok for a longer period of time than the two biggest political parties in the UK.
Despite the massive following that TikTok has among the younger generation, both parties have only just decided to join the platform after the General Election was announced last week. If you want to stay updated on the latest events of the election campaign, you can follow our live blog for all the latest updates. Now, when it comes to the content on their accounts, there's a noticeable difference in the number of posts between the Conservatives and Labour. The Tories have only four posts on their account, with three videos that add up to less than two and a half minutes of content, and one slideshow that features a "threat review" of Labour's shadow cabinet.
On the other hand, the Labour account has a whopping 28 videos so far, which is an average of about nine videos per day. It's interesting to note that the two most popular videos on their account, with over 2,100,000 views, feature Lord Farquaad from the 2001 film Shrek and the late Cilla Black. Now, if you're not a TikTok user, this might seem a little confusing. But for those who know, it's clear that this kind of humor is loved by Generation Z. While there are some clips of Keir Starmer on the Labour account, there are also videos of other popular figures like Louie Spence, Harry Potter, and Barry from EastEnders singing "Something Inside So Strong." It's a mix of semi-ironic and campy content that is actually quite funny.
Interestingly, both Labour and the Conservatives are currently focusing their TikTok content on one particular policy - the proposed reintroduction of National Service. They know their audience well, as the majority of TikTok users are young and would be directly affected by this policy. The Tories are trying to convince TikTokers that it could provide them with valuable life skills, while Labour is taking a more satirical approach to the idea. And for now, it seems that Labour's strategy has been more successful, with over 53,000 followers and 1.1 million likes, compared to the Tories' 15,000 followers and 97,100 likes.
However, we must keep in mind that the typical TikToker belongs to a demographic that may not be very likely to vote. So, while online popularity is essential, it may not necessarily translate into electoral success on July 4th. And while you're here, don't forget to follow Metro's Alright, Gov? on TikTok for more relevant political discussions that matter to you.
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[Generative AI is experimental.]
