The Russian information war has entered TikTok.
Several new measures were announced Friday by the social network to prevent misinformation and propaganda from spreading. The measures are positive, but could have been done better: The New York Times reported that TikTok is rife with misleading videos purporting to depict footage of the war.
One way social media networks are trying to combat misinformation is by making the fact that the Russian government controls the messaging of its media organizations apparent to users with state-affiliated media labels. Now, TikTok has joined the race and is working on an initiative that will roll out labels in the coming days. Posts from the TikTok accounts of outlets likeRT come with a label that designates it as Russia state-controlled media.
A "Russia state-controlled media" label in action. Credit: Screenshot: TikTok
Clicking the label takes users to an explanation of what it means and recommendations for how they should look at the source of the content they are watching.
The label explanation says that an organization may be editorially controlled by a government based on evidence collected by credible, authoritative, and independent external experts. It encourages viewers to pause and ask themselves if the video tries to advance a particular perspective.
These labels have been given to other social networks for years. They are new to TikTok, a platform owned by Chinese company ByteDance. China has state-run media. TikTok said it would roll out content on some state-affiliated channels. It is not clear whether or not this will apply to the TikTok accounts of Chinese outlets; TikTok told PC Mag that it won't release further details until later this year.
Will people click through? Credit: Screenshot: TikTok
What actually constitutes 'state controlled media' can be a thorny question. Credit: Screenshot: TikTok
The Harvard Misinformation Review found that labeling state-controlled media as such is an effective way to counter propaganda. The labels have to be prominent so as not to be missed.
There is a white text exclamation mark in front of the Russia state-controlled media text on the semi-translucent bar at the bottom of the video. The labels are live on the TikTok app, but not on the web browser version. In the coming days, you will see those, according to a TikTok spokesman.
TikTok's website states that the company is stepping up its moderation of content. Posts that are fact-checking will not be accepted for the For You Page. TikTok says it has evolved its methods in real-time to identify and combat harmful content, such as implementing additional measures to help detect and take action on livestreams that may broadcast unoriginal or misleading content.
TikTok is taking some proactive steps. Digital literacy tips were developed with the National Association for Media Literacy Education.
One of the panels at the top of the Discover tab has an image with text reading Stay informed, support our community. There is a hub with some basic digital literacy tools, including TikToks showing questions to ask yourself before sharing news about Ukraine, a donation panel for causes related to the Ukrainian refugee crisis, and tools to enable security settings.
The panel sits in a top bar among other portals for "animals" and "DIY projects." Credit: Screenshot: TikTok
TikTok users can scroll to get tips on identifying misinformation or securing their own accounts. Credit: Screenshot: TikTok
In the wake of more aggressive measures from the likes of Meta to counter the Russian government's official and false version of events in its invasion of Ukraine, TikTok has made an announcement. Social media has made it possible for Russians to see what is happening on the ground. It comes with the risks of being fake or misleading. The first TikTok war had rocky terrain.
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