TikTok is altering how we tell stories. Many people create videos or voice-overs of other people’s (usually anonymous) postings on TikTok that express their viewpoint on a relationship problem or ethical dilemma. Since many users are looking for advice or for whom to back in response to these dilemmas, they watch many of these TikTok videos.

While some may say it’s entertaining, the anonymous aspect of TikTok videos makes it very difficult to know whether what is presented in these videos is true or not. This is mainly a result of the fact that the majority of what is posted to TikTok is not verified before it is uploaded.

As such, many of the responses and comments posted on these videos are based on incorrect assumptions about what happened in a situation and/or the user’s personal experiences. In addition to demonstrating that virality does not mean something is true, this trend poses a dilemma for journalists in balancing the need to produce engaging stories with the need to produce factual information.