TikTok Expands STEM Feed Across Europe Amidst Mounting Pressure
Fostering Educational Content for Young Users
As TikTok grapples with escalating scrutiny in the United States and the United Kingdom, the social media giant is demonstrating its dedication to promoting educational content within its platform. On Tuesday, the company revealed plans to broaden its specialized STEM feed throughout Europe, initially focusing on the U.K. and Ireland. This move follows the successful launch of the STEM feed in the U.S. last year.
Automatic STEM Feed for Young Users
The STEM feed will automatically appear alongside the “For You” and “Following” feeds for TikTok users under 18 years old. Those over 18 can opt-in to the STEM feed through the app’s “content preferences” settings. The feed will showcase English-language content accompanied by auto-translate subtitles.
Impressive Growth and Engagement
Since its U.S. debut last year, TikTok reports that one-third of users have enabled the STEM feed, with a third of teenagers accessing it weekly. The app has witnessed a remarkable 24% increase in STEM-related content in the U.S. following the feed’s introduction. Globally, nearly 15 million STEM-related videos have been shared on the platform over the past three years.
Partnerships for Content Assessment
To ensure the quality and appropriateness of the STEM feed, TikTok is expanding its collaborations with Common Sense Networks and Poynter. Common Sense Networks will evaluate the content’s suitability for the STEM feed, while Poynter will assess the information’s reliability. Only content that passes both checkpoints will be eligible for inclusion in the STEM feed.
Addressing Concerns and Criticisms
The introduction of the STEM feed comes amidst criticism of TikTok for exposing children and teenagers to harmful content. Rights groups have alleged that the app employs addictive design practices to keep users engaged for prolonged periods.
In February, the European Union announced an investigation into TikTok’s potential breach of the Digital Services Act, which includes provisions for user safety online. The commission is examining whether the app is adequately preventing minors from accessing inappropriate content and if its design choices encourage addictive behavior.
Positioning as an Educational Hub
By expanding the STEM feed, TikTok aims to present itself as an educational hub for its millions of young users, countering criticisms from lawmakers worldwide. TikTok CEO Shou Chew has already leveraged the STEM feed to address claims of the app’s harmful impact on young users, highlighting the feature during his testimonies in two separate U.S. congressional hearings in March 2023 and January 2024.
4 Comments
TikTok’s STEM adventure in Europe? Watch algorithms learn physics, folks!
Well, isn’t TikTok smartening up its act by embracing STEM in Europe!
Finally, more than just dance moves and lip-syncs on TikTok, science is taking the stage!
TikTok diving into STEM? Now that’s a plot twist I didn’t see coming!