Tik Tok for Research: Tik Tok for Research

One way to use Tik Tok is to use it as a primary source. A primary source is an immediate, first-hand account of an event. Items such as photographs, videos, interviews, diaries, and original documents are all examples of primary sources. With the popularity of camera phones, first-hand accounts are prevalent on social media. For example, you could use Tik Tok videos of people going through a natural disaster such as a hurricane. You can use a Tik Tok video to demonstrate the thoughts and feelings of people during a protest. However, you must verify the information found in the video first.

How to verify the credibility of a Tik Tok video:

1. Are any news platforms also covering the same content, or even better, the same video? As with any other piece of information you receive, it is best to verify its accuracy by looking across a wide variety of platforms. News media organizations will often ask for permission to use a Tik Tok creator's video for their own story. More than likely, they have done their due diligence to verify the video is credible before posting it to their Twitter feed or news article.
2. Are there clues within the video itself? For example, if a video says it is from a protest in Iran, what clues can tell you this is true? Are you able to translate any protest signs? Is there any identifiable geography or point of interest in the background? Do more than just blindly believe what you are told. 
3. Does it spark an intense emotion? Often a video may be real but the captions are not. For example, you may come across a video of someone having an allergic reaction and the caption reads "just got my COVID shot." This person may very well have had an allergic reaction but not necessarily to the COVID vaccine. This may spark an intense reaction in you, fear, anger, worry, etc. However, is there anything in the video that you can verify is true? You might want to look for a large scale newspaper that is also reporting on allergic reactions to the COVID vaccine. 
4. Does it seem unbelievable? I recently saw a quote from someone who said "A hurricane is coming, be wary of sharks swimming in the streets." This is because, inevitably anytime there is a hurricane, a video gets circulated of CGI sharks swimming in the streets. 
5. What's the date of the video? Videos get recirculated during certain events. Many times this is done for advertising revenue. For example, a protest video may get recirculated for views and advertising revenue each time a new protest pops up. Check the date the video is posted.

Various studies have been performed analyzing the quality (truthfulness) of information found on Tik Tok. For topics such as medical information, climate change, mental health, etc. the overwhelming results show that Tik Tok's are a source of misinformation. In one study on kidney cancer, of the 61 videos that were analyzed, 96% were found to be unreliable or of mediocre quality. 

If you chose to use Tik Tok as a source, make sure the information is reliable using the SIFT method of evaluation. Follow the four steps below:

1. Stop. Take a second to be sure you are looking for the information that is relevant to your topic. Have you gone off track? Down a rabbit hole? Take a second to reset.
2. Investigate the Source. Can you find any information about the creator of the Tik Tok? Do they have a link to their website in their profile? Search for information that tells you what makes them an authority on your topic.
3. Find Consensus in a Trusted Source. You want to be able to verify the information in the Tik Tok in a trusted source. Even better, you should be able to verify the information in a number of different sources.
4. Trace back to the original. Is the Tik Tok you're viewing a repost from another creator? Try and find the original video to find out information about the credibility of the creator. 

For more information on the SIFT method of evaluating sources, use this research guide.