A digital strategist claims that the social media app TikTok will help lead the way to fight misinformation on social media.
Scott Kleinberg is a nationally syndicated columnist and the former social media editor at the Chicago Tribune. He joined WGN Radio 720’s morning show with Bob Sirott to discuss the issue on Tuesday.
“Last year Tik Tok started the hashtag #LearnOnTikTok and it was a way to help users learn using their short form video content,” Kleinberg said. “Now as an extension of that campaign they’ve launched this hashtag called #FactCheckYourFeed which it says is designed to equip the Tik Tok community with skills that are needed to critically engage with content, navigate the platform safely and guard themselves against potential harm”
Kleinberg said that TikTok users tend to trend younger than other social media platforms, but the misinformation campaign is targeted at all age groups, especially those older users that may be searching for information on COVID-19 vaccines.
Kleinberg said TikTok’s original goal was to teach younger users about news literacy, but the campaign morphed into other initiatives.
“Right now, what I am seeing is plenty of COVID-19 content and all of the COVID content has a link to other information to a very well done frequently asked questions page talking all about vaccines.”
Bob Sirott’s acclaimed broadcasting career has spanned nearly five decades and has included stints at WMAQ, WBBM-FM, WLS, WGN and various television stations.
Sirott can be heard on WGN Radio 720, weekdays from 5-9 am.
