TikTok launches in-app feature to response disaster in Nepal

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Oct. 21: In response to the recent devastating flood and landslides in Nepal, TikTok has launched an in-app feature to ensure users access accurate and timely information. 

Leveraging its wide-reaching platform, TikTok will now direct users searching for flood-related keywords both in Nepali and English to the official website of Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, according to a press statement of TikTok. 

Furthermore, for more information and tips on personal and community safety, users can go through the tragic safety center. Such in-app initiatives ensure that users receive verified updates and guidance directly from reliable sources, enhancing safety during natural disasters.

TikTok is committed to prioritising the safety of its users, especially during emergencies, by minimising the spread of misinformation that could lead to confusion or potential danger. 

By guiding searches about natural disasters, such as floods, to NDRRMA’s authoritative information, TikTok ensured that users make informed decisions during and after times of crisis, particularly in flood-prone regions of Nepal.

TikTok emphasises partnering with local authorities as an effective method of navigating critical moments by sharing awareness and life-saving information. 

TikTok’s flood intervention serves as an opportunity to demonstrate its value as a tool for the public good while helping the government to effectively communicate disaster risks and preparedness strategies. 

The platform is committed to strengthening disaster risk reduction efforts, particularly for marginalised communities in remote areas, which are often the most vulnerable during natural calamities, read the press statement.