- TikTok is expanding its STEM feed across Europe, beginning in the U.K. and Ireland, to promote educational content amid regulatory scrutiny.
- The feed, initially launched in the U.S., automatically appears for users under 18 and can be enabled by adults.
- Partnerships with Common Sense Networks and Poynter aim to ensure content appropriateness and reliability, addressing concerns over harmful content and addictive design practices.
Facing mounting regulatory pressure in the U.S. and U.K., TikTok reaffirms its commitment to educational content by extending its dedicated STEM feed across Europe, debuting in the U.K. and Ireland following its U.S. launch last year.
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The STEM feed will integrate into users’ feeds
The STEM feed will integrate into users’ feeds, automatically appearing for those under 18 and accessible via content preferences for adults. Featuring English-language content with auto-translate subtitles, the feed has gained traction since its U.S. inception, with 33% adoption among users and a notable 24% surge in STEM-related content.
TikTok partners with Common Sense Networks and Poynter
TikTok partners with Common Sense Networks and Poynter to vet content for appropriateness and reliability, respectively, before inclusion in the STEM feed, reflecting the platform’s efforts to address concerns over harmful content and addictive design.
Critics’ scrutiny, including an EU investigation into TikTok’s compliance with digital safety regulations, prompts the platform’s strategic move to position itself as an educational resource, leveraging the STEM feed to counter allegations of harm to young users, as highlighted by CEO Shou Chew in recent congressional hearings.
