Answer Details

When seeking trustworthy U.S. political news on TikTok, it is best to follow accounts associated with established, highly-rated news organizations rather than individual influencers, who often present opinion as fact. Sources such as The Associated Press and Reuters have high credibility ratings across the political spectrum and are available on TikTok, though the platform is generally better known for opinion-based commentary than objective reporting. Trustworthy Accounts to Consider The following accounts are associated with news organizations that generally have high trust ratings for factual reporting: Associated Press: @apnews Reuters: @reuters (Note: Reuters generally focuses on international news, but covers major U.S. political stories) PBS NewsHour: @pbsnewshour NBC News: @nbcnews CBS News: @cbsnews ABC News: @abcnews Key Considerations for News on TikTok Algorithm Bias: Studies have indicated that TikTok's algorithm may have a political bias in its recommendations, with content from certain political leanings being more frequently suggested to users. Influencer vs. Journalist: Many popular political accounts on TikTok are run by individual content creators and influencers, who are more likely to mix news with humor, entertainment, and personal opinions. These sources are often highly partisan (e.g., liberal commentator Aaron Parnas or conservative commentator Charlie Kirk). Low Follow Rate for Journalists: U.S. adults on TikTok follow journalists and traditional media outlets at a much lower rate (0.4%) than they do mid-tier influencers and general content creators. Media Literacy: To get a balanced perspective, it is crucial to employ media literacy skills, verify information across multiple sources, and be aware that content is often designed to be engaging and viral rather than comprehensive or purely factual.