The Security Minister has raised the alarm over young people reading the news on social media sites such as TikTok.
Tom Tugendhat warned about the “pervasive” influence of such platforms on younger generations.
He raised particular concerns about TikTok which is owned by Chinese firm ByteDance in a speech at the Policy Exchange think tank today.
Mr Tugendhat, who ran in the summer's Tory leadership race, warned that "challenges" could be created if Beijing declares the platform's algorithms a national security asset.
When asked whether he thinks TikTok is being used as a tool by the Chinese state, he said: "The reality is there are many different platforms around. TikTok is one of them and the reality is editorial control is exercised by algorithms that are programmed by individuals.
"The idea that these are some neutral actors scientifically controlled editorial decisions - they're not, they're chosen.
"They're just chosen by someone who has programmed them in advance rather than somebody who's decided whether to run your news story or somebody else's news story.
"Whether or not these sources are being used to influence or shape debate today, may not be the question. The truth is the bridge is being built and what's crossing it is yet to be worked out."
The Security Minister stressed that it is "critical" the public knows where debates are coming from.
"We shouldn't be having them triggered by outside forces and a hidden hand. For too long foreign interference has been slowly creeping into British democracy," he said.
He added: "The influence of social media platforms on our younger generations here in the UK and around the world is pervasive. The contents on these platforms will influence minds.”
Mr Tugendhat did not say whether the Government is planning to regulate TikTok.
He said: "If ByteDance declare, for example, the TikTok algorithm, or rather the Chinese state declare, the algorithm a national security asset, that poses challenges."
In August, Parliament closed its TikTok account after MPs raised concerns about user data being sent to Beijing.
A TikTok spokesperson said: "TikTok is an independent platform, with a global leadership team. We are open about how our recommendation system works, and publish regular transparency reports which demonstrate our content moderation in practice.
"We're working to provide researchers, academics and civil society even more access to public and anonymised data about content and activity on our platform."
