Netherlands May Start Recruiting Young People into the Military Through TikTok

The Dutch Ministry of Defence wants to use TikTok to combat misinformation about military service and attract new recruits.

During discussions in parliament, Dutch Deputy Defence Minister Derk Boswijk said the ministry intends to expand its presence on newer social media platforms, including TikTok. The ministry’s interest in the platform is driven by its popularity among young people.

Through TikTok, the ministry wants to counter false claims that young people who sign up for one year of military service are immediately sent to Ukraine. Boswijk stressed that such information is not true.

Germany’s military recruitment account “Bundeswehr Karriere” is cited as an example. It shares humorous videos, glimpses of everyday military life, and stories from soldiers on the platform.