Germany's far-right AfD party is finding success on TikTok — as its popularity among young voters grows

• The youth vote for Germany's far-right party, the AfD is growing ahead of key elections.
• Social media could play a role in this development, with far-right politicians finding success on platforms including TikTok.
• A study published earlier this month showed that over half of those aged 14-29 in Germany use social media to stay updated about news and politics.

Germany's far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has gone from the political fringes to the mainstream in recent years, consistently polling in the top three parties in the country.

And data shows that younger voters now play a major role in the party's growth.

In Bavaria's 2023 state election, analysis from polling company Infratest Dimap showed 16% of voters aged 18-24 supported the AfD — this was up by 9 percentage points from the previous election and bigger than the party's broader result in the region.

In Bavaria's mock state election for under-18s in September, the AfD added over 6 percentage points to become the second biggest party with 14.9% of the vote, according to the organizers.

The AfD alsojumped by 8 percentage points to receive 18% of votes from 18-24-year-olds in the 2023 Hesse state election, Infratest Dimap data published by local media showed.

The AfD promotes anti-immigration, anti-multiculturalism and anti-Islamic policies, and seeks to scrap the euro as a national currency, lift sanctions against Russia and abolish Germany's renewable energy act.

The party has been met with widespread public criticism despite its growing popularity, including calls to ban the AfD and anti-right protests.

German domestic intelligence services classify some AfD factions and politicians as extreme right.

Traditionally, young voters are seen as more