Social networks exposed: who is leading in the fight against antisemitism?

A new report reveals how tech giants are dealing with the wave of hate sweeping the web. An American organization for combating antisemitism examined TikTok, Instagram, and X, and discovered huge gaps. Over the past year, the organization submitted weekly reports on problematic accounts and posts. The results are surprising: contrary to its image, TikTok showed the best enforcement data among the three, followed by Instagram, and at the bottom of the list is X.

Liora Raz, the organization's CEO, explained the danger in an article for the JNS website:

"We saw time and again how hate that starts online does not stay there. It gives people legitimacy, normalizes antisemitism, and eventually we see the consequences in the real world."

The organization reported 49 accounts on TikTok, which removed almost half of them and acted against most of the posts. TikTok even removed entire antisemitic sounds. In contrast, only a third of the accounts were removed on Instagram.

While TikTok acted aggressively and even permanently blocked a user who called the massacre in the Gaza envelope "an inside job," Instagram mostly chose to remove individual posts but leave the accounts. The most severe situation was recorded on X, where only 12 percent of the reported accounts were removed. The organization noted that X often defined antisemitic rhetoric and praise for terrorist organizations as political speech that does not constitute a violation.

The data highlights the helplessness of some networks in dealing with serial hate spreaders who hold huge audiences. The organization calls on the platforms to add experts to moderation teams and publish transparent reports. Now it remains to be seen whether the tech giants will take responsibility and enforce their policies more effectively.