TikTok expands STEM feed to Kenya, enhances educational content
The move is expected to encourage more young people to engage with science, tech, and innovation-related topics interactively.
TikTok has officially launched its STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Feed in Kenya, offering users a dedicated space for fact-checked, educational content.
The move is expected to encourage more young people to engage with science, tech, and innovation-related topics interactively.
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A growing global initiative
The STEM Feed was first introduced in April 2024, reaching 150 million users across parts of Europe and the Americas.
Six months later, TikTok's parent company, Byte Dance, expanded the initiative to more European countries and with the positive reception it got, they have now rolled it out in Kenya and other parts of the world.
TikTok has over 10 million active users, and in Kenya, according to the Reuters Institute highlights that 54 per cent of Kenyan internet users engage with TikTok.
Before the "STEM" feed, Kenyans had an Explore page, which allowed users to have a feed curated by TikTok based on interests and content interactions.
The platform is extending this feature to the country as part of its global rollout.
How the STEM feed works
Unlike the general 'for you' page, which mixes various types of content, the stem feed is dedicated to educational videos covering topics such as coding, robotics, space exploration, simple science hacks, medical science, and environmental sustainability.
TikTok confirms that the content is verified by third-party fact-checkers to ensure credibility and accuracy.
The feed is automatically activated for users, when you swipe right twice, from the 'for you' page, but users can turn it off in TikTok's content settings.
Why it matters for Kenya
TikTok has been facing criticism from Kenyan authorities for allowing explicit and inappropriate content.
The launch of the stem feed presents an opportunity for the platform to reshape its image by promoting educational and informative material.
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The feature could become a valuable learning tool for students, teachers, and young professionals in Kenya.
While this is a positive step, it remains unknown how Kenyan users will embrace the stem feed.
Will they shift their focus from entertainment to educational content?
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