War on TikTok: Watching the Ukraine and Russia War on social

Social media has always connected with strangers from around the globe; the Ukraine and Russian war is no exception to this fact.

The first media war

The Spanish-American War has always been thought of as the first "media war" as its military action was fuelled by the media. Newspapers ran sensationalist articles, while correspondents were sent to Cuba to witness the war firsthand.

Sixty years later, the conflicts in Vietnam earned the title of the first "TV war" as it became the subject of large-scale news coverage after a substantial number of U.S. troops had been committed to war in '65. By the height of the war in 1968, 600 accredited journalists were covering the front lines via wire, radio, and television networks. The joint U.S. Public Affairs office, released daily briefings (known as "the five o'clock follies"), bringing the news straight into the families' homes watching the evening news.

Guerrilla Journalism

Growing up in the final years of the Afghanistan war, I remember intermittent front page spreads and updates on the lives lost on the front line cycling over TV screens. I wasn't old enough to understand why it had happened, nor did I care that much about the news. My knowledge of it was optional until it was over.

Fast forward ten years, and throw in TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, everyone has access to the gorilla journalism coverage of this new war - whether they want it.

Seeing this transition, from a child with no interest in current affairs to Journalism graduate with an eye for the news and social media has been interesting. At University my lecturers reminded us daily that social media would play a key role in our careers, it’s how we’d connect to our readers, find sources for articles, and be aware of the news before competing papers.

I don’t think I took any of their words to heart until Trump came into office in 2016. Since then social media apps like Twitter and TikTok appear to come hand in hand with current affairs…In some cases they’re the catalyst that drives it to virality.

Social media always had a bad rep, a selection of “bad seeds” scattered over it’s first decade of popularity was enough to make people doubt it as a realistic source of news. But similar to the reputation of mobiles, TV’s, and pretty much anything else, it’s begun to become more ingrained in how we learn about our world.

It may feel like social media is in it’s peak, and considering it’s been around for 20+ years, that would be a valid claim to make. But time and time again, we’re seeing the potential of social media hit new heights. I for one am incredibly intrigued to see how we make the best use of them, and how we inhale information through them in the years to come.

War in the TikTok era

Concerning the current crisis, anyone can fill the role of war correspondent… as long as they have an iPhone.

The early days of Russia's unprovoked attack on Ukraine were dubbed the first "social media war". Civilians and soldiers shared their experiences on the front lines or special moments as they fled the country.

"Social media represents a transformational element of armed conflict, unlike anything we have ever seen," suggested William V.Pelfrey, professor in the Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The rise in in-person coverage of the war and the change in western attitudes to the conflict are completely unfound for our generation but rife with potential problems- some of which I'd like to explore today.

How are civilians using social media?

A lone child is playing the piano as the bombs fall in Kyiv, Polish soldiers playing with refugee children at the border, and young women sneaking back to their bombed-out homes to try to see what they can salvage. Footage like this reminds her that there is more to the fight than bombed out buildings and arguing politicians. Most of the actions taken out by "higher powers" are impacting the innocent civilians (on both sides) more than anything else.

Ukrainian photographer Valeria Shashenok usually posts videos of her travels, fashion shoots or nights out with friends on her TikTok account. But since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the twenty something now tells of her daily life under bombardment in the city of Chernihiv, about 100 kilometres north of Kyiv. Set to music and with a dash of dark humour, she describes “an ordinary day in an air raid shelter” or offers advice on “what to buy in a supermarket during wartime” to her 300,000 followers.

News, humour, and the idolisation of Volodymyr Zelenskiy

Searching #Ukraine and #Russia will give you more than a view of the front lines. There’s dark humour, bright moments, and realistic storytelling. We’ve noted how this new form of storytelling gives a more accurate view of the war than we could ever get from the books. But it also brings attitude changes to the ones learning through a screen.

Whilst we can watch the war as if we’re in Ukraine ourselves, seeing it unfold online can also make it seem more fictional. Some people are showing their support for Ukraine by idolising its president, Volodymyr Zelensky.

TikTok is awash with “fancams” lusting over the man, and the always classy New York Post has published headlines such as: “Women go wild for ‘thirst trap’ Ukrainian President.” A recent viral tweet similarly declared: “BREAKING: every woman in your life now has at least a small crush on Volodymyr Zelensky, and there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it.”

It is natural to admire Zelenskiy’s poise and bravery amid the invasion of Ukraine. But there is a difference between respecting a politician and sexualising or worshipping them. Idolising politicians is questionable during the best times, but doing it amid a bloody war is highly problematic. Idolising wartime leaders can help glamorise conflict and perpetuate dangerously simplistic narratives of good versus evil. Treating a head of state as a member of a boyband also risks trivialising what is happening in Ukraine.

Not to mention, it’s just embarrassing.

The Washington Post

This new form of journalism will help people of all ages be aware of the conflicts, regardless of their typical interest in the news. But like any sort of journalism or storytelling, there is a chance of bias an misinformation. Photos and videos of events are no longer a trusted source of truth.

The Washington Post, and other mainstream outlets on TikTok are doing their best to keep viewers educated on misinformation and potential deep fakes they discover on their FYP.

So, what do we think?

Technology is changing us, that’s not newsworthy. Throughout the pandemic, social media kept us sane and allowed us to make jokes at politicians, celebrities, and each other. It’s natural to assume that some people may choose to keep their spirits high through idolising the hero’s of the Ukraine and Russia war, and that civilians will want to document their stories.

Depending on your mindset, you may find some videos beautiful and others in poor taste. But that’s the internet, I guess.