‘We’re giving education a dedicated home’: TikTok launches STEM feed in Australia
While the potential TikTok ban looms in the US, locally, the platform is continuing to grow with the launch of an independent STEM feed.
Rolling out throughout January, the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) feed will provide Australia’s 8.5 million TikTok users with a dedicated feed for discovery, education, and entertainment.
Having already launched in other markets including the UK, Europe, and Canada – where STEM content has since grown by 35% on the platform – Simon Bates, head of content for TikTok ANZ said he’s thrilled to launch it down under.
“Education has always been on the platform, but now, we’re giving it a dedicated home,” he said at the launch’s press conference at SEA LIFE Sydney on Wednesday morning.
“This is already performing incredibly well in other markets, so much so that one in three young people on TikTok are visiting the STEM feed on a weekly basis, which is pretty incredible, so we’re excited to see that momentum here in Australia.”
To ensure the feed is reliable and accurate, TikTok has partnered with independent organisations Common Sense Networks and Poynter Institute as part of a triple-layer fact-checking process.
After videos or accounts are firstly identified by TikTok, the two organisations will independently assess the content to ensure it is appropriate, before it’s featured on the STEM feed. If the content does not pass all three checkpoints, it will not be eligible.
“Part of the success of the STEM feed in other markets is the moderation,” Bates continued. “That’s in terms of the quality, and the standard we uphold.”
Over 500 Aussie STEM creators will be among those featured on the feed, including author and social media personality Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, astrophysicist Dr Kirsten Banks, and microscopic interrogator Walt Carroll.
“Science tells us that coffee increases your life expectancy, but doesn’t work chemically in your body for the first two hours after you wake up. Science gave us penicillin which, by itself, increased life expectancy by 15 years! Science helps us better understand our daily lives and we need to elevate credible, quality, and fact-checked information,” Dr Karl shared on at the launch.
“On TikTok, I love sharing the awe and wonder of science with people. For me, one surprising change is that the average age of my audience is getting younger. The STEM feed makes it easier to find enriching, educational, videos and I’m confident it will inspire random folk to learn about subjects which are vital for Australia’s future.”
It will also feature a number of organisations including SEA LIFE Sydney, the Australian Museum, and emergency services such as the NSW Rural Fire Service.
“I’m proud our world-leading firefighting experts and efforts will be elevated on TikTok’s STEM feed as another way we can help the community to live bush fire ready,” NSW RFS Commissioner, Rob Rogers, said on Wednesday morning.
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Lauren McNamara is the associate editor at Mumbrella, covering the agency beat. She joined in November 2022 as editorial assistant, after completing a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at UTS.
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