TikTok has launched a dedicated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) feed in over 20 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa. This initiative aims to enhance learning opportunities and connect users with high-quality educational content.
The new STEM feed will sit alongside the existing “Following” and “For You” feeds, providing users with access to high-quality educational content curated from respected experts. English-speaking content will be auto-translated into local languages, ensuring accessibility for a broader audience.
To maintain credibility, TikTok has partnered with two independent organizations—Common Sense Networks (CSN) and the Poynter Institute. CSN will assess content for age-appropriateness, while Poynter will verify the reliability of the information. Content that fails these checks will not be featured in the STEM feed.
“TikTok is home to more than entertainment. It’s a platform where users flock to make discoveries; whether it’s uncovering a new restaurant, listening to a new artist for the first time, or learning a new language. #STEMTok expands the world of discovery for our users whilst educating them with enriching content,” said Boniswa Sidwaba, Head of Content Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa at TikTok.
The launch follows the success of the STEM feed in the United States and Europe, where STEM-related content has seen a 35% growth globally since its introduction. Educational communities have been thriving on TikTok, with nearly 15 million STEM-related videos published worldwide in the last three years.
To encourage young users to engage with STEM subjects, the new feed will be enabled by default for users aged 13-18, though they can adjust their content settings if desired. All users will have the option to disable the STEM feed through the app’s content settings. Since the launch of the STEM feed in the U.S., one-third of teenagers have accessed it weekly.
With over 1 billion monthly active users globally, TikTok has evolved beyond entertainment to become a space for learning and discovery.
