Byte-Sized Learning: The Rise of STEM on TikTok
By Ahana Mandal
Over the past few years, TikTok has become one of the most influential platforms that shape how young people engage with the world. Known for its endless stream of dance trends, comedy skits, and lifestyle content, the app has rarely been associated with education. However, that began to change in 2023 with the introduction of the STEM tab, a dedicated feed for science, technology, engineering, and math.
In a space built around fast, flashy entertainment, this addition was a bold and surprising move. The idea of pausing mid-scrolling to learn about chemistry or computer science seemed almost out of place. Yet, it also felt timely, as a signal that educational content could not only coexist with entertainment but also thrive even in the most unexpected digital corners.
Importantly, the STEM feed isn’t a free-for-all. The videos shown are reviewed by Common Sense Networks and the Poynter Institute to ensure factual accuracy and quality.
As NC Political News put it, “TikTok has quietly rolled out a feature that’s doing the opposite [of dumbing us down]: making kids smarter.”
That may sound like an overstatement, but it speaks to the growing potential of informal learning in digital spaces.
And the numbers back it up. Since the tab’s launch, STEM-related video views have increased by 24%, according to data cited in BackupVideos.io, a security platform for creators to preserve their TikTok content. It’s more than just a number, as this rise reflects a shift. For teens who might never seek out a science documentary or sit through a long lecture, these short, engaging videos offer a low-pressure entry point into complex topics.
As Baltic Apprenticeships explains, “The bite-sized format suits the short attention spans of Gen Z, while still delivering meaningful, educational content.”
However, the STEM tab still has its limits, starting with visibility. Many users don’t even know it exists. As one student told U-High Midway, “It depends a lot on the viewers… whether to go on it or not.” And in an app designed to pull users into viral trends and endless entertainment, finding educational content can feel more like a detour rather than being the main feature.
Then there’s the question of depth. While a 30-second video might introduce a scientific principle or technological concept, it rarely goes further. Critics argue that this doesn’t count as real learning, but that misses the point. The STEM feed was never meant to replace traditional education; it’s meant to inspire curiosity, and sometimes that’s where real learning begins.
As NC Political News noted, “The STEM feed has created a space where learning is cool, curiosity is rewarded, and science feels relevant.” And that relevance matters, especially for students who may not have access to strong STEM resources in school or at home. Even a single video, when timed right, can plant a seed, a question that leads to more questions, a topic that sparks a Google search, or even the start of a new passion. In that sense, the STEM feed doesn’t need to provide all the answers. It just needs to open the door.
With that said, there’s still plenty of room for growth. TikTok could promote the tab more prominently within the app’s main interface, making it easier to find without needing to search. It could also encourage creators to build educational series, not just one-off clips, allowing for more continuity and depth. And perhaps most importantly, it could work to ensure that this content reaches a broader, more diverse audience, especially those in communities where access to quality STEM education is limited.
The STEM feed’s strength isn’t just in what it teaches, but who it reaches. It offers learning moments in between laughs, questions in between trends. And in a time when attention is one of the most valuable commodities, capturing even a few seconds for science and discovery is no small achievement.
Of course, not every student will engage with it. Some will scroll past, uninterested. Others may watch a few clips and move on. But for the ones who stop and explore, the potential is real.
In the end, TikTok’s STEM tab may not transform education overnight. But it doesn’t have to. Its power lies in its ability to meet students where they are, to offer sparks of insight and moments of wonder in a place they already know and use.
And sometimes, a spark is all it takes to light something much bigger.
