Weaponizing TikTok in Myanmar: How TikTok Fuels Militarized Propaganda and Profits from Harm in Myanmar

1. Summary

Since the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, TikTok has rapidly grown into one of the country’s most influential social media platforms. With over 19.6 million users in Myanmar making up nearly 59% of the country’s internet population. It has now  become a primary space for political messaging, especially among youth and users in conflict-affected regions. While the platform has served as a tool for both resistance communication and public awareness, it has also been widely exploited by pro-military, military media and nationalist actors.

These actors have exploited the platform to spread disinformation, promote violence, nationalism, and normalize military rule. They avoid moderation by adapting content formats, using euphemism and spreading materials across multiple accounts. Some content includes calls for violence, gender-based threats, and operational military targeting.

The militarization of TikTok in Myanmar reveals how short-form video platforms, when left under-regulated, can be weaponized to inflame divisions, manipulate public opinion, and facilitate real-world harm. Without urgent intervention, the platform will continue to contribute to organized digital repression.

2. Introduction: TikTok’s Role in Myanmar’s Information Sphere

As of 2025, TikTok boasts over 1.59 billion monthly active users worldwide, with more than 19.6 million of them located in Myanmar. This means that approximately 58.68% of Myanmar’s 33.4 million internet users are active on the platform. TikTok officially launched internationally, including in Myanmar, in September 2017, but its user base saw a significant surge after the February 2021 military coup. During this period, the ruling junta imposed internet restrictions and banned Facebook, prompting many users to migrate to TikTok for communication, content sharing, and news dissemination.

In Myanmar, TikTok serves multiple roles, ranging from political engagement to economic activity and social interaction. The platform has been instrumental in raising awareness and sharing information during periods of political upheaval. At the same time, it has been misused by the military to spread disinformation and instill fear. On the economic front, TikTok offers a valuable space for entrepreneurs and businesses to market their products and services. Socially, it enables users to create and share content, express their identities, and build community connections.

TikTok’s ease of use, minimal setup, and short-form video format make it more approachable than platforms like Facebook (which requires VPNs) or YouTube (which consumes more data and demands longer attention spans). Its algorithmic amplification promotes instant visibility, making it ideal for users seeking to share opinions, products, or political content without needing large followings. Following Myanmar’s 2021 military coup, Facebook took decisive action by banning the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) and affiliated accounts due to their roles in spreading misinformation, committing human rights abuses, and escalating the risk of violence. This ban also encompassed military-controlled enterprises, state-run media outlets, and advertisements linked to military-affiliated commercial entities. In response to the crisis, Facebook enacted Myanmar-specific policies to prohibit content that praised or justified violence against civilians or supported military-led arrests of civilians. As a result of these restrictions, pro-military propagandists and nationalist groups shifted their activities to other platforms such as TikTok and Telegram, establishing new channels to propagate disinformation. 

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