German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Real Purpose in Creating a TikTok Account
(Baonghean.vn) - Earlier this week, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz became the latest head of state to join the social network TikTok.
The chancellor has promised that he “won’t jump” and his spokesman said the platform would enable the German government to reach more people interested in learning about politics.
A video uploaded to the German chancellor's account shows Mr Scholz's office with its glass windows. The camera then pans to the chancellor sitting at his desk. Mr Scholz also announced the news on social network X, formerly Twitter, writing: "I won't jump. Promise."
The German chancellor's spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit, said in a statement that the TikTok channel will try to provide more information to citizens who "increasingly use TikTok to learn about and discuss politics."
The account will also provide a “behind-the-scenes look at the daily life of the government,” Hebestreit added.
“We have to go where people go to get information,” said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.
Hebestreit said the opening of the account a few days before Mr Scholz's visit to China this weekend was "coincidental".
Previously, US President Joe Biden joined the popular social networking app in February.
According to DW, TikTok is not yet officially banned on German government devices, but each ministry has imposed technical restrictions so that the app cannot be uploaded on machines with access to sensitive data.
For example, the German Health Ministry has an account to combat Covid-19 conspiracy theories, but this account is operated from devices not linked to the ministry's servers.
According to the same source, Chancellor Scholz is preparing to make a three-day visit to China, starting on April 13. According to the Hebestreit spokesman, Mr. Scholz will visit several cities, including Shanghai and Beijing. He is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on April 16.
Germany and China are important trading partners, but both leading economies have struggled in recent months.
This trip will mark Mr. Scholz's second trip to China since becoming German chancellor.