Kenya has become the latest country to gain access to TikTok‘s dedicated STEM feed, offering users a curated space for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics content.
This rollout follows launches in select regions during 2023 and further expansion in 2024, but marks the first time the feature is available to all Kenyan users.
Despite Kenya’s high engagement with the platform, this region has often experienced delays in accessing new features.
A New Hub for STEM Learning
The STEM feed provides a dedicated section on TikTok, separate from the “For You” and “Following” feeds, showcasing educational and informative STEM-related videos.
This initiative mirrors TikTok’s existing efforts to promote educational content through hashtags like #LearnOnTikTok and #BookTok.
Ensuring Accuracy and Reliability
TikTok has partnered with Common Sense Networks to review videos for age appropriateness and The Poynter Institute to verify the reliability of information.
“We look forward to supporting TikTok’s STEM initiative through this alliance. By leveraging Common Sense Networks’ singular expertise in content evaluation, we can ensure that these digital experiences for teens will be valuable, educational, and entertaining,” said Eric Berger, Common Sense Networks Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
President of Poynter, Neil Brown noted, “The creativity of TikTok content makes it an energetic and entertaining source of information, and Poynter has been glad to partner with TikTok in helping improve the quality and safe experience of its STEM feed.”
This is a key step in combating misinformation, particularly concerning scientific and health topics.
It remains to be seen whether Kenyan STEM content creators will be featured on the feed.
Millions of STEM videos already exist on the platform, and this new feed will make it easier for users to find trustworthy and engaging content.
Benefits for Kenyan Users
The STEM feed offers several advantages for Kenyan TikTok users:
- Increased Access to Educational Content: Users, including students and educators, can now easily find high-quality educational STEM material.
- Improved Content Discovery: The dedicated feed streamlines the search for STEM content, removing reliance on the “For You” page’s algorithm.
- Potential to Boost STEM Interest: This feature could inspire greater interest in STEM fields among young Kenyans, aligning with national investments in digital skills training.
Addressing the Delay: A Broader Issue
While the launch is welcomed, it also highlights a recurring issue: the delayed access to tech features for African countries.
Despite Kenya’s substantial TikTok user base and engagement, the country has often been behind markets like the US, UK, and parts of Europe in receiving new features.
This delay is not unique to TikTok, but a trend across social media and tech platforms.
African users contribute significantly to platform growth, yet frequently lack early access to new tools and monetization opportunities.
The arrival of the STEM feed in Kenya raises hopes that TikTok and other tech companies will recognize the potential of African users and prioritize them in future rollouts.
For now, Kenyan users can explore STEM content on TikTok through a dedicated feed designed to promote learning, discovery, and engagement with verified scientific information.
