Harmful misinformation guide

In any community online or in the real world, it's natural to have different opinions. But when it comes to topics that impact your safety or health, we want to operate on a shared set of facts. That's why we work to counter harmful misinformation on TikTok, connect you to the facts, and let you know when we identify that content is (or may not be) authentic. In this guide, you can learn more about the rules, tools and tactics that can help you have a trustworthy experience on TikTok and beyond.

Our rules on harmful misinformation

Our Community Guidelines prohibit harmful misinformation about health, elections, climate change and more. When content goes against these rules, we remove it or make it ineligible for the For You feed as outlined in our policies (learn about our policies here). We take action on misinformation regardless of intent. Our policies apply to both intentional “disinformation” as well as harmful misinformation that may not have been shared with the goal of deceiving people.

To help ensure our moderation decisions are grounded in facts, we work with independent fact-checking partners who assess whether information is true, false, or unverified. If you see misinformation that might break our rules, please report it.

When we take action on your content, we'll let you know through an inbox notification or within the "Account Status" page in your in-app Safety Center. You can also submit an appeal if you think the moderation decision was a mistake. When you report harmful misinformation, you can track the report's outcome in the "Report Records" page in your Safety Center.

Looking for context clues

When you're assessing something you saw online, a good first step is to check whether the account or the content is authentic. Is this person, video, or audio what it seems to be?

There are clues across TikTok that can help you with that. While the exact wording can vary depending on where you live, the overall message is the same. For example, you can keep an eye out for:

• "Verified" check-marks: If you follow a high-profile creator like your favorite celebrity, sports team, or brand, you may see a blue check next to their username. This lets you know that the account genuinely belongs to them. These can't be bought—they have to be vetted by our team. Learn more.
• AI-generated content (AIGC) labels: AI unlocks creativity, but it can also blur the lines between fact and fiction. Creators must label any realistic AIGC when they upload it, and we have a tool to do that easily. TikTok also automatically labels some AI-generated content. If you see unlabeled AIGC, report it. Learn more.

• Unverified content labels: Sometimes, there are grey areas when it comes to misinformation. For example, in fast-moving situations, the facts themselves may still be unclear. We label videos as "unverified" when our fact-checkers are in the process of reviewing them, or if their fact-checking was inconclusive*.

If you try to share content with an unverified claim, we may also ask you to "reconsider before sharing"—especially during emergencies and unfolding events. This helps prevent the spread of misinformation.

You should still think critically about content that's not labeled as unverified—and report potential harmful misinformation so our safety teams can assess it.

*Exact appearance of these labels may vary by market. Learn more.

Connecting you to trusted information

To spot misinformation, it helps to know the facts. We partner with experts and fact-checking organizations around the world to help connect you to trusted information. On TikTok, we offer features that can help you find reliable sources. Look out for informational banners when you watch or search for content that may be associated with misinformation, such as:

• Search reminders: When you search for topics that may be associated with misinformation in your region—like covid-19, mental health, or climate change—you may see a banner that reminds you to check your sources, and directs you to reliable information.
• Rapidly changing events notices: When things are moving fast during times of crisis, keep an eye out for search banners or pop-ups that point you towards authoritative sources with updates you can trust.
• LIVE and short video informational banners: During local crises like unfolding natural disasters, keep an eye out for informational banners or trusted donation reminders when you're watching content on your LIVE or Video Feeds.
• Election Centers: Ahead of elections, we work with local experts or authorities to launch search banners and in-app Election Centers with facts about when, where and how to vote. You can find these through tags on election-related videos, LIVE banners, and searches. Learn More.

You can also check out TikTok communities or feeds to learn more about topics like literature, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics such as #booktok, #learnontiktok , and #STEM—though you should still practice media literacy skills when you're scrolling them. Learn more.

Spotting misinformation online

We're always teaming up with creators, experts and local officials on engaging educational content about how to spot misinformation online—beause finding vetted content on TikTok is just one step.

The tips below from media literacy expert MediaWise can help you separate fact from fiction anywhere online.

Bold claims can mislead or manipulate us, so before you share or believe what you saw online, remember to slow down and ask yourself:

Who Posted It?

• Is this person actually an expert on the topic they’re discussing? Looking at the account's other posts can give you context.
• Are they who they claim to be? Our verified badges can help provide clarity.

Do the facts add up?

• Do you have the full picture, or is important info missing that could be misleading? Look for gaps in arguments, exaggerations or claims that aren't backed by proofpoints.
• Does the evidence check out? Search for the original source.

Disclaimer

The content provided in these guides are for informational purposes and educational use only.