Anti-Defamation League CEO Blames TikTok for Rising Antisemitism
The CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Jonathan Greenblatt, has taken aim at TikTok, accusing the social media platform of “amplifying and intensifying” antisemitism among the public.
In a recent appearance on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Greenblatt emphasized the fact that while rising antisemitism on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) have been discussed, efforts to combat antisemitism on TikTok have largely been ignored. Greenblatt highlighted TikTok’s role as a constant news source for many young people and called for addressing the issue, claiming that the platform operates like “Al Jazeera on steroids.”
“TikTok, if you will, is the 24/7 news channel of so many of our young people and it’s like Al Jazeera on steroids, amplifying and intensifying the antisemitism and the anti-Zion[ism] with no repercussions,” Greenblatt claimed.
The ADL CEO is not the first person to publicly criticize TikTok for its promotion of antisemitism. Since similar allegations against TikTok have surfaced, the social media platform’s CEO Shou Chew has made efforts to ensure that the platform condemns antisemitism. In recent weeks, Chew has met with several prominent Jewish groups in the United States, including the ADL, the American Jewish Committee, and the UJA Federation of New York.
TikTok has also stated that it has increased the number of moderators proficient in Arabic and Hebrew since the recent conflict between Hamas and Israel. The platform further claims to have removed millions of videos violating policies related to graphic content, bullying, and harassment concerning the conflict.
A TikTok spokesperson acknowledged that it is a “difficult time” for many people around the world, and that it will continue to meet with creators and “human rights experts” as part of the platform’s efforts to ensure safety.
“This is an extremely difficult time for millions of people around the world and in our TikTok community,” the spokesperson said. “We feel it’s important to meet with and listen to creators, human rights experts, civil society and other stakeholders to help guide our ongoing work to keep our global community safe.”
