TikTok to remove ‘harmful’ climate change denial videos and direct users to ‘authoritative information’

TikTok will begin removing videos that deny the existence of climate change and direct users to “authoritative information”, the video app has announced.

The social media giant said it is updating its misinformation policy to target content which “undermines well-established scientific consensus” about global warming - with any clips containing misinformation to be removed.

A new search feature will also be introduced to direct users searching climate content towards more “authoritative information” sourced in partnership with the UN.

To make this effort more effective, TikTok announced it would work with independent fact-checker partners, and said the changes will help “empower accurate climate discussions” and “reduce harmful misinformation”.

The move is similar to one made by YouTube which already directs users to the official UN web pages on climate change when looking up relevant videos on the topic.

The changes will be rolled out ahead of Earth Day which is taking place on Saturday (22 April.)

TikTok said it would encourage its community to take small actions that can help the environment on Earth Day and participate by posting videos of activities using #EcoFriendly, #EarthDay, #ZeroWaste, and other similar hashtags.

The platform said: "Join us as our global community continues to raise sustainability awareness with all the ways we can all help make this planet an even better place.”

The changes come after TikTok has toughened its stance on harmful content over the last year, confirming it was removing eating disorder content after research found views of these types of videos had grown.

However, the platform is still under pressure from governments over its privacy and safety concerns due to its Chinese ownership.

It still faces a prospect of an outright ban in the US as politicians argue the app is used to push misinformation and pro-China propaganda.

TikTok has already been banned from government staff work phones in the US, EU, Canada and other countries including most recently the UK.

Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden announced TikTok had been banned from government phones in the UK, after security concerns were raised about use of the Chinese-owned app.

Dowden said the ban would be “good cyber hygiene” and will take place with “immediate effect” on 16 March. Ministers and officials will still be able to use the app on their personal phones.