#STEMTok Takes Africa: When Dance Moves Meet Differential Equations

TikTok has officially proven that it’s not just about perfecting your dance routines or finding out what sound is trending this week. In a move that might make your science teacher finally download the app, TikTok has launched a dedicated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) feed across more than 20 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa as of February 2025. Who knew that the platform famous for viral dances would one day be explaining the inner workings of quantum physics between your scrolling sessions?

From #DanceTok to #STEMTok

TikTok has come a long way from being just an entertainment platform. With over a billion monthly users globally, it has quietly transformed into a discovery engine where people learn everything from cooking recipes to astrophysics in 60-second bursts. The introduction of the STEM feed in Sub-Saharan Africa represents TikTok’s growing commitment to educational content, following its successful launch in the United States and Europe where science-related content has already grown by an impressive 35%.

“TikTok is home to more than entertainment. It’s a platform where users flock to make discoveries; whether it’s uncovering a new restaurant, listening to a new artist for the first time or learning a new language,” says Boniswa Sidwaba, Head of Content Operations Sub-Saharan Africa at TikTok. Although she didn’t specifically mention discovering why your homemade volcano experiment destroyed your kitchen, that’s probably covered too.

How to Find Your Inner Science Nerd on TikTok

Accessing the STEM feed is remarkably straightforward. Users in Sub-Saharan Africa can now click on the STEM feed alongside the “Following” and “For You” feeds. It’s like having a pocket science lab, tech workshop, engineering masterclass, and math tutor all in one place – and yes, you can still swipe back to those cat videos whenever you need a break from learning.

The feed features English-speaking content with auto-translate subtitles, ensuring that language barriers don’t get in the way of discovering why mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. And for parents worried about misinformation, TikTok has partnered with two independent fact-checking organizations, CSN and Poynter, to verify the content. Because nothing ruins a good science lesson like accidentally learning that the earth is flat (spoiler alert: it’s not).

Teenagers: The Prime Beneficiaries

With 25% of TikTok users globally being teenagers, the platform has strategically positioned the STEM feed to be turned on by default for users aged 13-18. This means that between watching their favorite creators and learning the latest dance trends, teens will now stumble upon videos explaining the nature of bacteria, planetary science, astrophysics, technology, and robotics. It’s like hiding vegetables in a pizza – they’re getting educated without even realizing it.

“Through its STEM feed, teen users can enhance their knowledge on topics such as the nature of bacteria, planetary science, astrophysics, the inner workings of technology, and robotics,” notes a recent marketing report. Parents can now rest easy knowing that their teens aren’t just perfecting their dance moves but might also be secretly becoming rocket scientists.

Educational Communities Thriving

The STEM feed isn’t emerging in a vacuum. Educational communities already thrive across TikTok, with almost 15 million STEM-related videos published globally in the last three years. Hashtags like #BookTok have amassed an impressive 47 million video creations from users forming communities of avid readers. Meanwhile, #LearnOnTikTok has become a beehive of interesting facts and niche subjects.

It’s worth noting that this isn’t just about watching – it’s about connecting. The STEM feed aims to “connect a dynamic community of people over shared interests”. Imagine a world where kids are as excited about discussing complex equations as they are about the latest viral challenge. The future is now, folks.

More Than Just Entertainment

In Sub-Saharan Africa, where traditional education systems sometimes struggle with outdated curriculums and infrastructure challenges, TikTok’s bite-sized, engaging approach could offer an alternative route to learning. The platform’s evolution from pure entertainment to including substantial educational content represents a significant shift in how social media platforms can serve diverse purposes.

Marlène Masure, General Manager of Operations for TikTok EMEA, emphasizes that “discovery is essential to the TikTok experience”. Although her quote was cut off in the search results, we can imagine she would go on to say something profound about the intersection of entertainment and education-or maybe just “please stop using TikTok during actual science class.”

The Future of Learning Is Scrollable

As TikTok continues to expand its educational offerings across Africa, we might be witnessing a fundamental shift in how younger generations engage with STEM subjects. The platform that once seemed dedicated solely to entertainment is now potentially positioning itself as an unexpected ally in science education.

Whether this leads to the next generation of African scientists citing TikTok videos in their doctoral theses remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: learning about complex STEM concepts has never been more accessible-or more likely to be set to catchy background music.

So the next time someone criticizes you for spending too much time on TikTok, you can confidently respond that you’re not procrastinating-you’re studying differential equations and rocket science. They just happen to be sandwiched between dance videos.