Social Media Person Desires to Advance East Germany's Agenda
In the heart of East Germany, a 23-year-old TikToker named Fjodor Busik is on a mission. Hailing from Thuringia, Busik creates videos in towns and villages across the region, showcasing the local vibes, energy, and people. His goal is to promote and put East Germany back on the map with a positive image, exploring and highlighting every city and village in Thuringia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Brandenburg on TikTok.
Busik's trend, "Tuff in the East," has captured the attention of young people across the region. His videos, always simple, always at the station, always in a puffer jacket, and always with a golden beckoning cat, have become a symbol of the East as a treasure that many no longer want to see.
However, the trend has not been without controversy. Nina Kolleck, a professor of socialization theory at the University of Potsdam, observes that the aesthetics being transported show prefab buildings, shopping carts in the hallway, neglected staircases, old cars, and people with strong accents. The demand to "put the wall back up" often appears in the clips and comments, suggesting a desire for separation and self-empowerment among some young East Germans.
Critics argue that the trend reinforces stereotypes about East German youth as poor, rough, right-wing, rural, stupid, and different. Some even claim that it plays into right-wing narratives that exploit cultural division. Yet, Busik remains undeterred. He responds to comments, travels to all the cities, and wants to create a community.
Busik, who has experienced being labeled as a foreigner in Germany and a Nazi in Kazakhstan, started the trend to combat hate against East Germany. He faces hate comments like "I donate five bricks for the wall," but he refuses to accept stigmatization.
Other social media approaches to promote East Germany include Tina Goldschmidt's dialect and Saxon humor, and Olivia Schneider's insights into life in East Germany. Despite the criticism, Busik's "Tuff in the East" trend continues to resonate with young people, with children and young people waving as he leaves for the next city, admiring his politeness, coolness, and humanity.
As Busik continues his journey, he is fighting against the anti-East German trend he has observed. His goal is to showcase the vibes, people, and energy of various cities and towns in East Germany, aiming to change perceptions and put East Germany back on the map in a positive light.
