TikTok is bringing its dedicated STEM feed to Europe as pressure from the US and the UK intensifies.
TikTok, the social platform is demonstrating that it is committed to supporting educational content on its platform. After debuting the specialized STEM feed in the United States last year, the business announced on Tuesday that it is bringing it to Europe, beginning in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
In addition to the “For You” and “Following” feeds, the STEM feed will start to show up automatically for users who are less than 18. With the app’s “content preferences” settings, users older than 18 can activate the STEM feed. There is auto-translate subtitled English-language content in the feed.
Also Read: WhatsApp is Reportedly Testing International Payments via UPI for Indian Users
33% of users have the STEM feed activated, and a third of teenagers visit it once a week, according to TikTok, since the feed’s inception in the United States last year. Following the debut of the feed, the app has witnessed a 24% increase in STEM-related content in the United States. In the last three years, the app has seen the global publication of around 15 million STEM-related videos.
The corporation is working with Poynter and Common Sense Networks to evaluate all of the information that appears on the STEM feed. These collaborations are being expanded. Poynter will evaluate the material’s credibility, while Common Sense Networks will check if it is suitable for the STEM feed. The STEM feed will not accept anything that fails either of these tests.
With rights groups claiming that TikTok employs addictive design techniques to keep users engaged for as long as possible, the app has been under fire for allegedly exposing dangerous content to children and teens. This coincides with the launch of the STEM feed.
The Digital Services Act contains guidelines for keeping users secure online. The European Union announced in February that it was looking into potential violations of this law by TikTok. The commission is examining the app’s compliance with laws governing content disclosure and whether or not its design choices encourage compulsive behavior.
In response to criticism from legislators worldwide, TikTok is attempting to mitigate these complaints by presenting itself as an educational resource for the millions of youth that utilize its app, today. Because TikTok CEO Shou Chew highlighted the STEM stream during testimony at two different U.S. congressional hearings—one in January 2024 and the other in March 2023—the firm has previously used it to refute claims that it is damaging for younger users.