TikTok Adds STEM Feed For Strictly Monitored Science And Technology Content

JAKARTA - TikTok added a new feed specifically dedicated to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) content with added moderation before the video appeared on the feed.

The STEM feed will be located next to two existing feeds, Following and For You, and will display content for users looking for trending science and technology videos. US users will start viewing the feed in the coming weeks.

Not all science and technology content will appear on the STEM feed. TikTok says that videos should pass through additional testing layers by partner organizations focused on trust and safety efforts.

Common Sense Networks will check content to ensure suitability for feeds, and Poynter will "assess the reliability of the information presented", according to TikTok. The company has previously worked with Common Sense Networks to filter content by age suitability.

The addition of curated feeds based on topics gives a TikTok community more visible and permanently placed - users who are usually not interested in STEM content will be able to access it easily.

While TikTok says the feed will be a place to access trustworthy and entertaining content, science and health have long been a topic where disinformation has grown, especially since the start of the pandemic.

TikTok bans false or misleading content about COVID and vaccines under its medical disinformation policy. The company did not immediately respond to a question about whether videos about covid or vaccines would be part of the STEM feed or how videos would be selected - and reviewed - for inclusion.

In February, TikTok appeared to be conducting a limited trial of feeds based on similar topics, including categories such as fashion, sports, and games. The company says it is currently testing feeds based on topics in certain markets.

This upgrade comes at a time when TikTok is under stricter scrutiny from policymakers over user safety and whether the app poses a national security risk. Earlier this month, policymakers introduced a bipartisan bill that would allow the app to be banned, and CEO Shou Zichew is scheduled to testify before Congress on March 23.