The Home Office’s latest bid to deter migrant crossings on small boats has been widely lampooned on social media.
According to reports in The Times, the government is considering paying TikTok influencers to run campaigns on their channels in countries such as Albania, Iraq, Egypt and Vietnam.
A shortlist of influencers drawn up reportedly includes a rapper, two comedians, lifestyle bloggers, TV personalities and a travel writer, who were chosen for their ability to appeal to young men.
The paper said the Home Office had a budget of about £30,000 to pay influencers – which would be capped at £5,000 per person.
A spokesperson for the Home Office told Sky News: “People smugglers frequently use social media to peddle lies and promote their criminal activities, and it is vital that we utilise the same platforms to inform migrants about the truths about crossing the Channel and coming to the UK illegally.
“The relentless action we have taken reduced crossings by 36 per cent last year, which saw similar weather conditions to 2022.
“We make no apologies for using every means necessary to stop the boats and save lives.”
The plans were quickly lampooned on social media, with several people lamenting the government’s latest bid to bring down the number of crossings.
Here’s a round-up of the reaction so far:
Related: More than half of public say Starmer should keep £28bn green pledge – poll
