Climate Change Disinformation on TikTok Is Now a Big No-No

The popular Chinese social media platform TikTok has updated its misinformation policy to enforce stricter guidelines regarding the spread of false information and climate-denying rhetoric, thus paving the way for other social networking websites to do their part for science and the environment.

“TikTok’s new policy to reduce the spread of climate disinformation is a step in the right direction,” says Michael Khoo, Climate Disinformation Program Director at the nonprofit Friends of the Earth. “We applaud any action to reduce the flood of climate disinformation online and encourage all social media platforms to adopt policies that protect their users and discussions on how to save our planet.”

Users are henceforth reminded that any content that “undermines well-established scientific consensus,” as explained by Aisha Malik of TechCrunch, will be labeled as climate disinformation, including anything that supports the “climate change is a hoax” rhetoric, or denies the scientifically proven causes of climate change. That being said, discussions regarding policies are still allowed, as well as personal views but only if they don’t contradict the facts. Friends of the Earth long advocated for TikTok to review its guidelines through meetings and joint statements. The nonprofit is now turning its focus to other social media platforms to encourage them to follow TikTok’s tracks.