Part 8/16:
Moreover, hate speech and divisive content have proliferated. During Malaysia’s contentious 15th general election, anti-Chinese and anti-ethnic videos went viral, fueled by TikTok’s recommendation algorithm that prioritizes engagement over creator popularity. Viral videos attacking particular communities deepen societal divides, threaten social cohesion, and threaten to incite ethnic or religious violence. Notably, content falsely claimed that certain political parties intended to re-enact the 1969 May 13 racial riots, stoking fears and polarization.