Answer Details

Trustworthy U.S. political news on TikTok is most effectively found through the verified accounts of established, independent news organizations and highly-followed non-partisan news communicators, as news on TikTok often comes from a mix of professional journalists, influencers, and private individuals. Verified News Organizations These accounts are run by established news organizations with a commitment to journalistic standards and ethics, though they may still have a general leaning that users should be aware of. PBS News (@pbsnews) is often cited in media trust polls as one of the most trusted and unbiased sources for news overall. The Associated Press (@apnews) is a major, independent news agency known for its objective reporting and is widely trusted. Reuters (@reuters) operates similarly to the AP, providing objective, global news coverage that is highly regarded for its factual reporting. The Wall Street Journal (@wsj) has a presence and, while its opinion section leans conservative, its news reporting is generally considered reliable. C-SPAN (@cspan) provides raw, unfiltered government proceedings and political events, allowing viewers to see events firsthand without commentary. Major broadcast networks like CBS News (@cbsnews), NBC News (@nbcnews), and ABC News (@abcnews) also have verified accounts that post news updates from their reporting teams. Widely-Followed Independent News Communicators These individual accounts have gained large followings for their accessible communication style, often focusing on non-partisan information or clearly stated opinion from specific perspectives. Vitus Spehar (@underthedesknews) is a popular TikTok creator with millions of followers who provides daily, easy-to-understand news summaries in a non-traditional, direct-to-camera format. Sharon McMahon (@sharonmcmahon) is known as "America's Government Teacher" and engages a large audience with non-partisan explanations of U.S. democracy, politics, and history, focusing on informed citizenship. Best Practices for Trustworthiness on TikTok Due to TikTok's algorithm mixing content from various sources, it is important to be a critical news consumer. Verify the source: Look for verified checkmarks and investigate the account's "about" section to understand who is behind the content. Cross-reference: Information seen on TikTok should be cross-verified with reports from multiple established, mainstream news outlets with strong journalistic standards. Be aware of opinion content: Much of the political content on TikTok is opinion-based or humorous. Be mindful of the difference between factual reporting and personal commentary.