TikTok's new warning label aims to help you identify videos with potentially misleading content. The platform will also show you a warning notification when you try to share a video that's been flagged for misinformation.

TikTok's Labels Encourage Mindful Sharing

TikTok unveiled its new approach to misinformation in a post on the TikTok Newsroom, stating that the platform takes "the responsibility of helping counter inauthentic, misleading, or false content to heart."

TikTok partners with PolitiFact, Lead Stories, and SciVerify to fact check content on the platform, but TikTok acknowledges that this system isn't without its flaws. The platform notes that "sometimes fact checks are inconclusive." Currently, any unsubstantiated content may be barred from the For You feed, and won't appear in users' recommendations.

To further TikTok's efforts to combat misinformation even more, it's rolling out a new warning label for unverified content, as well as a notification that appears when you attempt to share potentially misleading content. TikTok hopes that the warnings will prevent users from sharing content that hasn't yet been confirmed.

When you're scrolling through your feed, don't be surprised if you see the new label appended to the top of certain videos. The label will say, "Caution: Video flagged for unverified content."

Now, when you try to share a video that's been flagged, TikTok will display a notification that reads: "Are you sure you want to share this video? This video was flagged for unverified content." You can then choose Cancel or Share anyway, depending on whether you still want to share the content or not.

TikTok Warning Label notification
Image Credit: TikTok

Tiktok states that it has "designed this feature to help our users be mindful about what they share." It also has evidence to back up the effectiveness of the feature, noting that it decreased a user's likelihood to share a video by 24 percent.

According to the post, TikTok will be releasing this feature around the world, starting with the US and Canada. If you're the creator of a video that's been flagged for misinformation, TikTok will notify you.

Twitter launched a similar feature in September 2020, which encourages users to read articles before Retweeting them. The platform touted positive results with this method as well, and said that it actually prompted some users to open articles before sharing them.

TikTok Employs Tighter Standards on Misinformation

This is TikTok's strongest move against misinformation thus far. Other platforms, like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have become armed with several methods to curb misinformation, and it seems that TikTok is trying to catch up.