The Polarizing Abortion Debate on TikTok

Abstract: The rise of TikTok as one of the most popular social media platforms has created a new space for political debates, such as the debate surrounding abortion, to grow and evolve. In a politically polarized and divided society such as the United States, the impacts of new social media platforms are relatively unknown. Through an analysis of 40 videos posted to TikTok, this research paper has tracked the changes within the abortion debate that occurred from January 2020 to May 2023. With the creation of ideal types that define the extreme views held by supporters for and against abortion changes within affective polarization as well as political antagonism are analyzed. Contrary to other political debates in the United States the abortion debate on TikTok demonstrates a lack of polarization and users' views regarding abortion have stayed consistent over the measured time period. Other patterns regarding the use of religion, gender dynamics, and the use of scientific evidence became evident through the analysis creating a clear view of how the abortion debate has developed on the two opposing sides.