Amid TikTok’s meteoric rise, one thing it’s been criticized for is its trending amplification without creator credit.
This was specifically highlighted in the platform’s trending dance moves, with creators from black communities, in particular, calling on TikTok to do more to acknowledge the origins of these within the app.
Which it is now looking to do, through the launch of new tools to better allow users to credit trend setters, as well as new educational prompts and videos that explain the importance of the same.
As by TikTok:
“With the launch of these credit tools, creators will have the ability to directly tag, mention and credit a video in their description, showcasing the diverse voices on the platform and the strength of our community. Whether it’s participating in the latest trend, adding a punchline to a joke, or creating the next viral sound, creators can easily and directly quote their inspiration.
As you can see in the example above, the new process will make tagging easier in the publishing process.
Once you’ve uploaded your clip, tap the new “video” icon and you’ll be able to add video tags. From here, you’ll be able to select a video you’ve previously liked, favorited, or posted, or a video that uses the same sound as your upload. The video tag will then be added as a mention in the caption, crediting the original creator and ensuring proper attribution from your clips.

“We are also adding more user prompts for credit throughout the posting process, as well as an educational pop-up that encourages and explains the importance of credit. These features are an important step in our ongoing commitment to investing in resources and product experiences that support a culture of credit, which is critical to ensuring TikTok remains a place for creative expression.
Which would be even better if TikTok offered this on its own, but as noted, the platform has been heavily and publicly criticized for its cultural appropriation across various trends, which is why it’s now taking this step.
Anyway, it’s a positive result, but it would be a bit more progressive if TikTok had implemented such tools on its own initiative.
Maybe it will be a better indicator for future applications and help improve relevant consideration.
We’ll wait and see, but at least now we’ll see more TikTok creators get more in-app credit.
Although if people choose not to credit, they’ll have no more excuses, which could leave TikTok with a few more moderation headaches.
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