TikTok Partners With WHO to Combat Medical Misinformation

TikTok’s taking steps to further limit health misinformation in the app, by partnering with the World Health Organization on an expanded fact-checking initiative.

The updated process will see TikTok joining forces with the WHO’s “Fides” group to boost its medical fact-checking capacity.

Fides is a network of over 800 healthcare professionals who are active on social media, and are aiming to stop the spread of health-related misinformation by presenting factual explainers and insights into key health topics of discussion in the app.

The Fides group reaches millions of users across various social media apps, and now, TikTok will be looking to boost their reach and presence.

As per TikTok:

“Through this partnership, Fides network creators in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Mexico, and Brazil will be joining TikTok to create and promote evidence-based content. We are also making a $3M donation to support WHO's global work in destigmatizing mental health conditions and creating an informed, empathetic, and supportive online community.”

TikTok says that Fides creators will post explainers on health and scientific research, and provide expert insight into health topics, helping to dispel misinformation. Which could be a good way to deter harmful trends, which have seen a notable rise across social media apps since the COVID pandemic.

Indeed, according to a survey of U.S. adults conducted in October 2023, Americans are now less likely to view approved vaccines as safe than they were two years prior.

And TikTok itself hasn’t been immune to dangerous health trends.

As reported by BU Today:

“An analysis of Instagram and TikTok posts from 2022 to 2023 by the Washington Post and the nonprofit news site The Examination found that the food, beverage, and dietary supplement industries paid dozens of registered dietitian influencers to post content promoting diet soda, sugar, and supplements, reaching millions of viewers. The dietitians’ relationships with the food industry were not always made clear to viewers.”

These are the types of areas where Fides experts would be able to weigh in, and offer unbiased, expert insight into key health trends and questions, helping to educate younger audiences.

It’s another element of TikTok’s broader social good education push, which has also seen the app partner with scientists on a dedicated STEM feed. The platform’s connection with younger audiences, and the popularity of short form content, makes it a perfect vehicle for such, which could make this a particularly valuable partnership.

TikTok says that it will also be working with Fides creators to train them on TikTok best practices and tips.