Can You Trust What You See on TikTok?

As soon as you pick up your phone, do you scroll through TikTok to check out the top dance videos? Or watch hilarious animal clips? You might be in search of a fun distraction, but chances are you’re getting more than you bargained for. 

Once mostly an entertainment app, TikTok has increasingly become a vehicle for sharing news, how-tos, and other information. But the platform often contains misinformation, experts say. 

As soon as you pick up your phone, do you scroll through TikTok to check out the top dance videos? Or watch hilarious animal clips? You might be looking for a fun distraction. But you probably are getting more than you bargained for.

TikTok was once mostly an entertainment app. Increasingly, it has become a way to share news, how-tos, and other information. But the platform often contains misinformation, experts say.

Researchers at NewsGuard—a group that tracks online falsehoods—searched TikTok for content about major news topics. They discovered misinformation in nearly 1 in 5 of the videos that the app suggested. 

That is why, experts say, you shouldn’t believe everything you see on TikTok. 

NewsGuard is a group that tracks online falsehoods. Researchers for NewsGuard searched TikTok for content about major news topics. They discovered misinformation in nearly 1 in 5 of the videos that the app suggested.

That is why, experts say, you should not believe everything you see on TikTok.

Since TikTok was launched around the world four years ago, it has skyrocketed in popularity, especially among teens. A Pew Research Center survey from this year shows that two-thirds of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 have used the platform (see graph, below).

TikTok was launched around the world four years ago. Since then, it has skyrocketed in popularity, especially among teens. A Pew Research Center survey from this year shows that two-thirds of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 have used the platform (see graph, below).

According to experts, the features that allow the app to quickly and widely share fun videos also help to spread misinformation. Its short videos are easy to post and watch—but hard for TikTok to monitor. Videos on the platform can easily be manipulated and republished—and misinterpreted. With more than 1 billion monthly users globally, TikTok has an enormous reach, so its content can go viral rapidly.

Plus, TikTok uses an algorithm to tailor content to individual users, showing them videos it thinks they will enjoy. This setup “makes it more likely that a user will engage with content without pausing to consider its credibility,” explains Jennifer LaGarde, a digital literacy expert from Olympia, Washington. 

Many users also feel a bond with the influencers they follow—even if they know very little about them in real life. This can cloud users’ judgment. “Because so many teens are content creators themselves, and many of the people they follow on TikTok feel like peers, that sense of connection leads to trust that may not be earned,” says LaGarde.

All this makes it easy for falsehoods—about everything from Covid-19 to the war in Ukraine—to spiral out of control. A recent report found that even experienced journalists struggle to separate fact from fiction on the app.

According to experts, the features that allow the app to quickly and widely share fun videos also help to spread misinformation. Its short videos are easy to post and watch. But they are hard for TikTok to monitor. Videos on the platform can easily be changed and republished—and misinterpreted. With more than 1 billion monthly users globally, TikTok has an enormous reach. Its content can go viral rapidly.

Plus, TikTok uses an algorithm to tailor content to individual users. It shows them videos it thinks they will enjoy. This setup “makes it more likely that a user will engage with content without pausing to consider its credibility,” explains Jennifer LaGarde. She is a digital literacy expert from Olympia, Washington.

Many users also feel a bond with the influencers they follow—even if they know very little about them in real life. This can cloud users’ judgment. “Because so many teens are content creators themselves, and many of the people they follow on TikTok feel like peers, that sense of connection leads to trust that may not be earned,” says LaGarde.

All this makes it easy for falsehoods—about everything from Covid-19 to the war in Ukraine—to spiral out of control. A recent report found that even experienced journalists struggle to separate fact from fiction on the app.

TikTok officials insist they are committed to combating false information. For example, the platform prohibits posting misinformation about elections, impersonating another person, and making false statements about specific people. 

The company says it uses humans as well as automated filters to moderate content. TikTok reported that it removed more than 102 million videos that violated its rules in the first quarter of 2022.

But critics say these actions still aren’t enough. That is why, experts say, it’s important to think critically about what you encounter on the app—and do your homework to verify the information. Ask yourself: What images or words are being used to grab my attention? Why? Check the source of the video, especially if the clip claims to be sharing news. Cross-check information with trustworthy sources. And when that video of a flying zebra comes up as you’re scrolling, think twice about what you are watching—or are about to share! 

—additional reporting by The New York Times 

TikTok officials insist they are committed to combating false information. For example, the platform bans posting misinformation about elections, pretending to be another person, and making false statements about specific people.

The company says it uses humans as well as automated filters to moderate content. TikTok reported that it removed more than 102 million videos that violated its rules in the first quarter of 2022.

But critics say these actions still are not enough. That is why, experts say, it is important to think critically about what you see on the app and do your homework to verify the information. Ask yourself questions. What images or words are being used to grab my attention? Why? Check the source of the video, especially if the clip claims to be sharing news. Cross-check information with trustworthy sources. And when that video of a flying zebra comes up as you are scrolling, think twice about what you are watching—or are about to share!

—additional reporting by The New York Times