TikTok STEM Feed Now in Kenya—A Boost for Science and Tech Content

TikTok’s long-awaited STEM feed has officially gone live in Kenya, giving users access to a dedicated space for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) content. This feature, which was launched in select regions in 2023 and expanded in 2024, is only now becoming available to all Kenyan users. Despite the country being among the most active on the platform globally, such updates have often been delayed for this region.

What is the STEM Feed?

The STEM feed is a new, dedicated section on TikTok that showcases educational and informative content related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It appears as a separate tab alongside the For You and Following feeds, making it easier for users to explore trending and verified educational content.

This move aligns with TikTok’s broader goal of fostering educational content, similar to initiatives like #LearnOnTikTok and #BookTok, which have encouraged knowledge-sharing and learning on the platform.

Why is This Important?

TikTok’s STEM feed is not just another content category – it is curated and moderated to ensure accuracy. The platform has partnered with Common Sense Networks to vet videos for age appropriateness and with The Poynter Institute to assess the reliability of information. This is crucial in a time when misinformation spreads rapidly, especially in scientific and health-related topics. It is not yet clear if Kenyan content creators around the STEM field will get their content showing up on the feed.

With millions of STEM-related videos already on TikTok, the dedicated feed helps users easily discover trustworthy and engaging content in these fields.

How This Benefits Kenyan Users

1. More Educational Content – With STEM topics now front and center, Kenyan TikTok users can access high-quality educational material, whether they are students, educators, or simply curious minds.
2. Better Content Discovery – Instead of relying on the For You Page (FYP) to randomly suggest STEM content, users can now directly navigate to the STEM feed for a streamlined experience.
3. Boosting STEM Interest – This feature could inspire more young people in Kenya to take an interest in STEM-related fields, an area where the country is actively investing in through initiatives like digital skills training programs.

The Ongoing Issue: Why is Africa Always Last?

While this update is exciting, it also raises a familiar frustration: why are African countries always left behind when it comes to major tech rollouts? Despite Kenya ranking among the most active countries on TikTok, with a massive creator and user base, the platform has historically prioritized markets like the US, UK, and parts of Europe for new feature launches.

This isn’t just a TikTok issue – it’s a pattern seen across social media platforms and tech innovations. African users drive engagement and platform growth, yet they rarely get early access to new tools or monetization opportunities.

With the STEM feed finally live in Kenya, the hope is that TikTok – and other global tech platforms – will recognize the potential of African users and prioritize them in future rollouts.

For now, Kenyan users can finally explore the world of STEM on TikTok, benefiting from an algorithm that favors learning, discovery, and engagement with verified scientific content.