TikTok has launched a dedicated STEM feed across more than 20 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, expanding its content offerings beyond entertainment. 

The new feature appears alongside the “Following” and “For You” feeds, providing users with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics content from field experts.

The STEM feed will feature English-language content with auto-translate subtitles, with all material undergoing a dual verification process. Common Sense Networks will assess content for age-appropriateness, while the Poynter Institute will verify information reliability. Content failing either assessment will not appear in the feed.

In a press announcement, Boniswa Sidwaba, Head of Content Operations Sub-Saharan Africa at TikTok, says “TikTok is home to more than entertainment. It’s a platform where users flock to make discoveries. STEM expands the world of discovery for our users whilst educating them with enriching content.”

Building on Global Success

The African expansion follows successful STEM feed implementations in the United States and Europe. Since those launches, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics content has grown globally by 35%, with nearly 15 million STEM-related videos published worldwide in the past three years, according to TikTok.

Users aged 13-18 will have the STEM feed enabled by default but can modify their content preferences through in-app settings. All users retain the option to disable the STEM feed. TikTok reports that one-third of U.S. teenagers access the STEM feed on a weekly basis.

The platform, which attracts over one billion monthly users globally, has become a significant educational resource. Existing educational communities on TikTok include #BookTok, which has revitalized interest in literature among younger generations, and #LearnonTikTok, which covers topics ranging from local languages to ancient history.

TikTok Position in Sub-Saharan Africa

Last summer, TikTok announced the formation of its first Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Safety Advisory Council, comprising eight independent experts from across the region. The council aims to provide insights on developing policies and processes that address current safety concerns and anticipate future challenges on the platform.

TikTok is one of the most followed social media platforms in South Africa. In early 2024, according to DataReportal, its user base in the country reached 17.46 million individuals aged 18 and older.

On the other hand, in Kenya, TikTok faced scrutiny for similar reasons why it’s fighting a potential U.S. ban.

Kenyan authorities threatened to ban the platform in 2023, a move the government said aimed to prevent the leakage of sensitive data and enhance citizen security. However, Kenya’s Information Ministry recently opposed any suggestions of a TikTok ban and argued that ByteDance’s platform should be more regulated.