Exploring the real-life chaos that occurs within TikTok, ranging from riots to unfounded murder allegations.

A BBC Three investigation uncovers that TikTok is fueling online frenzies that promote anti-social behavior in the physical world.

Former employees claim that the problem is not being addressed due to concerns about impeding the rapid expansion of the social media application’s operations.

These frenzies – where TikTok drives disproportionate amounts of engagement to some topics – are evidenced by interviews with former staffers, app users and BBC analysis of wider social media data. They have then led to disruption and disorder in everyday life.

The investigation conducted by the BBC revealed that TikTok’s algorithm and design result in users being exposed to videos that they wouldn’t typically come across. This, in turn, encourages them to create unique content on the platform.

TikTok has previously distanced itself from outbreaks of disorder, such as the threatened looting of London’s Oxford Street last month, which politicians blamed on the billion-user app.

However, the BBC has identified four episodes in recent months where disproportionate engagement on TikTok was connected to harmful behaviour:

Former employees of TikTok compare these frenzies to “wildfires” and characterize them as “risky”, particularly because the app’s user base often consists of young and easily influenced individuals.

The BBC was informed by a TikTok spokesperson that the platform’s algorithm aims to unite communities and prioritize safety. It accomplishes this by suggesting various types of content to break repetitive patterns, eliminating “harmful misinformation,” and limiting the exposure of videos containing unverified information.

Before November last year, I was unaware of the existence of Moscow, Idaho. However, my TikTok feed suddenly became inundated with information about a tragic incident where four students were brutally murdered in their bedrooms, while their two housemates managed to survive the horrifying ordeal. Surprisingly, this news had not yet received widespread attention from the media.

TikTok became captivated by speculative theories regarding the identity of the murderers, despite the absence of any supporting evidence. Users on TikTok displayed a distinct level of obsession with the topic. Videos related to the case accumulated a staggering two billion views from November 2022 to August of the current year, in stark contrast to the mere 80,000 views on YouTube.

Former workers claim that this is a result of TikTok’s design. Users primarily consume content via their For You page, a stream of brief videos that are curated by an algorithm to cater to each user’s preferences.

When you upload a video on TikTok, it will be displayed on the feeds of users who TikTok believes might have an interest in it, rather than solely being promoted to your friends and followers like on certain other social platforms.

The algorithm may choose to promote the video to a larger audience at a faster pace compared to other social media platforms, based on user interaction. Former employees also mention that TikTok users are more inclined to create and share their own videos, unlike most users on other social media platforms who primarily consume content.

According to an internal document from 2021, revealed in Chris Stokel-Walker’s book TikTok Boom, participation is highly valued by TikTok as a top priority. The company aims for users to be actively engaged and invested in the app.

That element of participation can be terrifying for people like Jack Showalter, dubbed “hoodie guy” by some TikTokkers and falsely accused of involvement in the Idaho killings. His sister condemned the threats and harassment his family received. “There were so many victims created through internet sleuth videos,” she said.

Olivia, a TikTok user, went beyond being captivated by a drama happening thousands of miles away from her residence in Florida. She embarked on a journey lasting over six hours and recorded footage at the location for an entire week. At least one of her videos garnered 20 million views.

Olivia expressed her urge to explore and search for solutions, aiming to provide assistance in any possible manner.

She is a skilled content producer who has shared videos on various real-life criminal cases. Additionally, she recognizes that her TikTok content receives more engagement when she visits the actual locations.

Olivia did not explicitly level false accusations at people. But she said that unlike traditional news media, she can post controversial claims without confirmation. “I have the power to do that,” she said.

Olivia mentioned that the significant engagement on TikTok regarding topics such as the Idaho murders motivates users to produce videos. She explained that a single video on TikTok has the potential to receive millions of views, whereas if she were to post the same video on Instagram, it would only garner around 200 views. This difference in viewership is attributed to TikTok’s algorithm.

Bryan Kohberger, who had not been identified by any online investigators before, was taken into custody in December and subsequently accused of committing murder.

Although Olivia had prior experience as a social video creator, frenzies can attract individuals who have never posted similar content before, and they may be rewarded with a substantial amount of views.

Heather was among the individuals who became captivated by the way TikTok was consumed by the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Nicola Bulley, a 45-year-old resident of the small village of St Michael’s on Wyre in Lancashire.

Heather mentioned to me that when you repeatedly come across videos featuring the same content on the same subject, it becomes effortless to believe that you can also participate and blend in as just another individual.

She posted a video which falsely implied Nicola’s best friend, Emma White, had posed as the missing woman, and says it received 3.6 million views within 72 hours.

During the initial three weeks after she went missing, I discovered that videos tagged with Nicola Bulley’s name on TikTok had accumulated 270 million views. In contrast, the numbers were considerably lower on other popular social media platforms.

The mainstream media was also criticized for extensively covering the case, but on TikTok, explicit misinformation spread at a faster pace.

The BBC has seen emails Heather received from TikTok encouraging her to keep posting once her speculation had gone viral and applauding her posts as a hit.

She mentioned that the sensation of “empowerment” and “entitlement” resulting from this recognition has the potential to alter individuals’ conduct.

She has expressed remorse for her involvement in the excitement and has removed her videos.

Heather did not go to the location where the disappearance occurred, but several other TikTok users did. The police expressed their disapproval of people getting involved in the case solely to create social media content. As a result, they eventually issued a dispersal order, granting officers the authority to remove individuals from the area in order to prevent disruptive behavior.

Nicola Bulley’s body was found on 17 February in the river not far from where she disappeared. An inquest determined her death was due to accidental drowning.

The BBC was informed by a TikTok representative that users tend to show greater interest in stories during times of national conversation, which are further amplified by round-the-clock news coverage. The representative also highlighted that the BBC has frequently shared similar stories on TikTok.

The occurrences in schools in Britain and on the streets in France have demonstrated the role of TikTok in facilitating the escalation and dissemination of disturbances.

In February 2023, a TikTok video was shared, expressing discontent with Rainford High School in Merseyside for enforcing strict regulations on the length of girls’ skirts. Within three days, students from more than 60 schools replicated and recorded their own protests. Within a week, participation had expanded to over 100 schools.

In certain instances, the situation escalated: windows were broken, trees were ignited, and teachers were attacked.

Jasmine, a former TikTok moderator, expressed that she believes TikTok allows individuals to take viral trends from one school and spread them throughout an entire region, turning it into a competition to see which schools can outdo each other and make the trends more extreme.

Based on TikTok’s report, the majority of the videos displayed students participating in peaceful protests. However, the individuals I conversed with, including teachers and students, expressed apprehension regarding the overall impact of these videos.

I wanted to explore the kind of content that TikTok’s algorithm would suggest to a hidden account posing as a 15-year-old boy who is interested in typical things like football, amidst the school protests.

After being suggested football and gaming videos, the fourth video I came across was created by a 25-year-old influencer named Adrian Markovac. Along with promoting personal growth, some of his videos advocate for challenging school regulations regarding uniforms, homework, and restroom breaks, while also using derogatory language towards teachers.

Comments under his videos included some teenagers in the UK saying they had been suspended or excluded from school after following Mr Markovac’s advice.

During his interview with the BBC, Mr. Markovac expressed his support for young individuals who challenge unreasonable regulations. However, he clarified that he cannot be held accountable for the misguided choices made by a small portion of the audience.

After the school demonstrations, Paris and the rest of France experienced riots a few months later due to the killing of Nahel M, a 17-year-old who was shot by a police officer. The officer was subsequently accused of homicide. French president Emmanuel Macron attributed the chaos to TikTok and Snapchat.

Was there another TikTok craze involved? Or was the French President simply shifting blame?

Riots started without the involvement of social media due to the strong feeling of unfairness surrounding Nahel’s death.

However, the level of attention that it received on TikTok was significantly greater in comparison to other platforms. I discovered public videos on Snapchat featuring Nahel’s name with a total of 167,700 views (excluding any that may have been shared privately). On TikTok, the videos with the hashtag accumulated a staggering 850 million views.

In one town, Viry-Châtillon, on the outskirts of Paris, videos showed a bus on fire and a ransacked newsagents. Jean-Marie Vilain, the mayor, said demonstrations were rare in the town.

However, what he found astonishing and striking was that the riots extended to areas outside of major cities, reaching even small towns where there is typically no unrest and everything appears to be peaceful. This included regions such as Provence and Guadeloupe.

“I regret to say that once the riots commenced, TikTok transformed into a platform for individuals to showcase their abilities, essentially conveying a message of ‘look at what I can do. Can you surpass me?'” Mr. Vilain informed me. The evidence supporting his statement can be found in the progressively intense videos on TikTok as the riots unfolded.

From speaking to protestors, Mr Vilain also said seeing acts of destruction widely shared on TikTok “became the norm” for some people. TikTok users sharing this content who I messaged said the same.

The TikTok Effect

What connects amateur sleuths turning up at crime scenes, anti-social behaviour in UK schools and French riots? This film finds evidence that they are all examples of TikTok “frenzies”.

Watch on BBC iPlayer (UK Only)

Several former TikTok employees in the US and UK told the BBC that limiting these frenzies of harmful content was not a priority for the social media company, because it could slow down the app’s meteoric growth.

One of them, who I’m calling Lucas, worked in data strategy and analysis at the company. He said TikTok was not equipped to become more than just an app for dance crazes.

He mentioned that the app expanded at such a rapid pace that it became impossible for them to anticipate or foresee every possible direction it would take.

“I have never come across any attempts by them to actively prevent the spread of dangerous content. Moreover, they generally do not wish to hinder the rapid growth of entertainment on their platform.”

According to the BBC, TikTok stated that it employs over 40,000 individuals referred to as “safety professionals” who utilize technology to monitor content. The company claims that the majority of videos containing harmful misinformation are never seen by anyone.

The spokesperson stated that prioritizing safety is not only morally correct, but it is also a logical decision for the business.

The company additionally mentioned that it works together with scholars, law enforcement agencies, and other professionals to enhance its procedures.