From vampires and King Kong to killer asteroids, TikTok users are pumping out outlandish end-of-the-world conspiracy theories, researchers say, in yet another misinformation trend on a platform whose fate in the United States hangs in the balance.
Often accompanied by spooky background music, the videos – many of which garner millions of views – feature imperious AI-generated voices, sometimes mimicking celebrities. Conspiracy theory videos, often posted by anonymous accounts, typically had the tell-tale signs of AI-generated images such as extra fingers and distortions, said TikTok misinformation researcher Abbie Richards.
A TikTok spokeswoman insisted that “conspiracy theories are not eligible to earn money or be recommended” in user feeds.