TikTok has become a hub for all things that have to do with the internet. What was formerly just a short-form video platform has become a search engine for recipes, product reviews, and more. TikTok acknowledges the practice and adds Wikipedia snippets for extra information.
Wikipedia on TikTok
TikTok didn't announce the new feature, but some users are noticing the change on their own. When people search for certain people, places, or events, a tile among all the videos will be dedicated to a Wikipedia snippet providing a short but useful description.
The snippet also serves as a link that can lead users to the Wikipedia page on the topic. There are also small options below the topic like history, content, or products related to the subject, all of which lead to different entries.
TikTok spokesperson Zachary Kizer confirmed the feature, as mentioned in The Verge, wherein the platform is collaborating with Wikipedia to users directly within the app, and that the feature has already been live for a few months.
However, the snippets will not appear for every search entry. TikTok will not show a link to a Wikipedia page for certain topics. The company did not announce the feature, much less explain which topics qualify to get a snippet.
The company also has work to do when it comes to what kind of information appears. For instance, searching for the New York Mets did not produce a link to the main page of the team, but rather an entry for the Mets in the 2015 season.
Regardless, TikTok is becoming a preferred search engine, especially for younger generations. Google SVP for search, Prabhakar Raghavan said that around 40% of young people go to TikTok or Instagram when looking for a place for lunch, instead of Google Maps or Search.
A Semi-Reliable Source
Adding Wikipedia snippets could help with the misinformation problem within TikTok. Although, Wikipedia is not the most reliable source for credible information. Anyone who has done research knows that the free online encyclopedia can be edited by anyone.
It still beats the information you might get from TikTok. NewsGuard analysts state that almost 20% of videos that show up in the platform's search results contain misinformation, as reported by CNET, which is a concerning rate.
A TikTok spokesperson expressed that the social media site's Community Guidelines do not allow harmful misinformation and are removed from the platform. The company partners with independent fact-checkers to assess the accuracy of the contents.
There are instances where content creators present "facts" and information just for the sake of providing content. This can be harmful, especially with self-proclaimed dieticians, for instance, who offer dietary advice even without the expertise to do so.
The Wikipedia snippet that leads to a page serves as a pop-up that won't exit users from the app, which makes it a convenient source of information. Although TikTok does have credible results, it's still better to consult a different source, even if it is something that can be altered like Wikipedia.
