Germany’s Greens candidate for chancellor, Robert Habeck, believes the European Union should develop its own social media platforms akin to X, TikTok, and Instagram. Speaking on a Twitch livestream hosted by professional gamer HandOfBlood, the former vice-chancellor and climate action minister criticized the dominance of American and Chinese platforms.
“All of the major online platforms are currently controlled by either ‘authoritarian’ China or an American right-wing billionaire,” Habeck stated. He described both sides as exhibiting “some kind of worship of the authoritarian” and lamented Europe’s lag in technological innovation. “Where is the European X or Twitter? Where is the European TikTok? The European Instagram?” he asked.
To counterbalance this influence, Habeck proposed creating a pan-European platform driven by content from state-owned public broadcasters like Germany’s ZDF. “You can build a communications platform underneath [this content],” he suggested. Such a platform, he argued, would provide a uniquely European alternative governed by its own rules.
Habeck’s appearance on the livestream was part of his digitally-focused campaign ahead of Germany’s February federal elections. Known for his creative outreach, he also uses his YouTube channel to post videos styled as informal conversations with voters. HandOfBlood clarified that the Greens had reached out to arrange the interview.
During the stream, Habeck greeted viewers with a casual “hi chat,” which resonated well with HandOfBlood’s progressive audience. However, the broader political impact of the appearance remains uncertain.
Currently, the Greens are polling fourth, trailing Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) by a slim margin. Right-wing populist party Alternative for Germany (AfD) is five points ahead of the Greens, bolstered by high-profile appearances like co-leader Alice Weidel’s recent interview with Elon Musk on X, which garnered over 1.5 million views. In contrast, footage of Habeck’s Twitch stream has only attracted a few thousand views on YouTube.
Meanwhile, the Christian Democrats maintain a commanding lead with over 30% support, nearly double the Greens’ 15%. Yet their support has dipped slightly in recent weeks as the AfD gains momentum, buoyed by international right-wing endorsements.
