New prompts on TikTok encourage users to think before they share

TikTok wants you to think before you share unverified content on the platform. — AFP Relaxnews

TikTok has declared war on fake news. The Chinese social network has rolled out a system of warning messages flagging videos that include unverified content. This new feature aims to reduce the spread of videos containing inauthentic, misleading or false content by prompting users to think before they share.

"Caution: Video flagged for unverified content."

That's the message that users in North America will now see on certain TikTok videos. The Chinese platform has announced measures to bolster its fight against fake news published and shared by its users. The feature launched in Canada and the US, Wednesday, Feb 3. It should roll out worldwide in the coming weeks, TikTok said.

Basically, if the information in a video cannot be officially validated by fact-checkers, TikTok will flag the video with a warning message alerting users to the unverified content. The step comes as a major precaution at a time when fake news can quickly go viral, particularly on subjects like the Covid-19 pandemic or vaccines.