Answer Details

Based on recent research, determining "trustworthy" political news accounts on TikTok is complex, as trustworthiness varies significantly by political perspective. Here's what the data shows: ## Key Findings About Political News on TikTok **Political Balance**: TikTok news influencers are relatively balanced politically, with 25% publicly identifying as right-leaning and 28% as left-leaning [pew](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2024/11/18/news-influencers-on-tiktok/). **Background Matters**: Only 16% of TikTok news influencers have experience working for traditional news organizations, meaning 84% are independent creators without formal journalism backgrounds [pew](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2024/11/18/news-influencers-on-tiktok/). **Primary Focus**: Among TikTok news influencers' posts about current events, 52% focus on U.S. government, politics, or elections [pew](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2024/11/18/news-influencers-on-tiktok/). ## Important Considerations: 1. **Confirmation Bias**: Most people follow influencers who align with their existing views - 30% say they mostly agree with what they see versus only 2% who disagree [edelman](https://www.edelman.com/newsroom/richard-edelmans-6am-blog/america%E2%80%99s-new-news-influencers). 2. **Cross-Platform Presence**: Most credible TikTok news influencers also maintain presence on other platforms - 82% are also on Instagram, 71% on YouTube, and 64% on X [pew](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2024/11/18/news-influencers-on-tiktok/). 3. **Monetization**: About 74% of TikTok news influencers seek financial support through subscriptions, donations, or merchandise [pew](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2024/11/18/news-influencers-on-tiktok/). **Recommendation**: Rather than relying solely on TikTok for political news, consider cross-referencing information with established news sources that rank higher in trust surveys, such as Reuters, The Associated Press, BBC, or PBS [yougov](https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/49552-trust-in-media-2024-which-news-outlets-americans-trust). Look for TikTok creators who cite their sources and have backgrounds in journalism.