“Slopaganda,” a new term for propaganda driven by artificial intelligence, is spreading on social media platforms, experts warn.
Unlike waves of fake news or hate speech, this ‘slopaganda’ trend manipulates daily online conversations. It integrates seamlessly into digital life, according to a study by AI Forensics, a non-profit investigating algorithms and platforms.
Researchers analysed TikTok and Instagram search results in June 2025 for 13 hashtags, including #trump, #zelensky, #pope, #health and #history, in Germany, Spain and Poland. They found TikTok flooded with synthetic content, much of it visually convincing and designed for viral success. Around 25% of TikTok’s search results included AI-generated images. Instagram showed lower figures.
A major driver of this phenomenon is “Agentic AI Accounts,” profiles that use generative AI tools to produce synthetic content on an industrial scale. AI Forensics said over 80% of AI content on TikTok comes from these accounts, compared with 15% on Instagram.
Labelling remains a problem. Only half of TikTok’s AI content is clearly marked, the study said. On Instagram, just 23% was labelled, with labels absent altogether for desktop users.
The European Commission has launched a consultation to develop guidelines and a code of practice to make AI systems more transparent.
