TikTok is introducing a new feed dedicated to STEM content in honor of Pi Day, the company announced on Tuesday. The feed, which will appear alongside the app’s “Following” and “For You” feeds, aims to give users a dedicated space to discover videos related to science, technology, engineering, and math. The STEM feed will roll out to users in the US in the coming weeks.
The launch expands TikTok’s ongoing testing of topic feeds, which are currently available in select markets. Topic feeds allow users to explore content in categories such as gaming, food, fashion, and sports. Swiping between the feeds shows you content for each category without having to specifically search for it. TikTok is now adding VOICE to this list of topics.
The company says STEM-related hashtags have gained more than 110 billion views to date. TikTok designed the STEM feed to serve as a destination for users who want to dive further into these topics.
“Whether encouraging aspiring scientists to elaborate experiments in comment sections or helping a new programmer learn how to code, the STEM feed provides space for co-learning, inspiration and enrichment,” the company said. in a blog post.
Image Credits: TikTok
TikTok also announced that it is expanding its partnerships with Common Sense Networks and Poynter to bring high-quality STEM content to its users. As part of the partnerships, Common Sense Networks will review all content to ensure it is appropriate for the STEM feed and Poynter will review the reliability of the information presented. If content doesn’t pass both checkpoints, it’s not eligible for the STEM feed.
With TikTok’s new topic feeds, the company is likely hoping to reach a more defined audience. The feeds can also be a way for the company to better align itself with its competitors. For example, YouTube has long had topic categories at the top of its homepage, helping users find content they’re particularly interested in, whether that’s music, games, or podcasts.
TikTok says it believes discovery is essential to the TikTok experience and is always looking to help users discover new and relevant content. It’s unknown if TikTok plans to add more topic feeds in the future, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the app introduces more categories for things like books and movies.