Answer Details

For trustworthy U.S. political news on TikTok, it is generally best to follow the official accounts of established, reputable news organizations. Many traditional outlets maintain a presence on the platform to share clips and summaries of their reporting, providing a higher degree of accountability than individual content creators. Major news organizations with official TikTok accounts include: The Associated Press (@apnews): A highly respected news agency known for its non-partisan, fact-based reporting. Reuters (@reuters): A globally recognized news wire service known for its commitment to accuracy and lack of bias. NPR (@nprnews): A public radio broadcaster with a strong reputation for in-depth, unbiased reporting on political and national issues. CBS News (@cbsnews): The digital presence for the well-established broadcast news network. CNN (@cnn): A major cable news outlet that uses its TikTok account to feature news and political discussions. Important considerations for news on TikTok Even when following established sources, keep in mind the following factors when consuming political news on TikTok: Vetting influencers: TikTok content is dominated by influencers, and many produce political content. However, they lack the journalistic standards, editorial oversight, and fact-checking processes of traditional news outlets. A Pew Research Center analysis found that most TikTok users prefer news from influencers over journalists, but users should be cautious and verify information from multiple sources. Political bias: Research shows a growing partisan divide in Americans' news consumption, with sources like CNN and Fox News viewed very differently depending on political affiliation. A 2024 Pew Research Center study also found that TikTok is the only major social media platform where left-leaning news influencers are slightly more prevalent than right-leaning ones. Misinformation and disinformation: Misleading content can spread rapidly on TikTok. A 2024 AP report showed that despite TikTok's ban on political advertising, misinformation can still slip through. Context is also often lost in the short-form video format. Corporate ownership: Since TikTok is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, concerns about its influence and data privacy have been raised by U.S. officials. While recent actions in 2025 aimed to address these concerns by securing U.S.-based ownership, the situation highlights the complex issues surrounding foreign ownership and social media.