QUESTIONABLE SOURCE
A questionable source exhibits one or more of the following: extreme bias, consistent promotion of propaganda/conspiracies, poor or no sourcing of credible information, a complete lack of transparency, and/or is fake news. Fake News is the deliberate attempt to publish hoaxes and/or disinformation for the purpose of profit or influence (Learn More). Sources listed in the Questionable Category may be very untrustworthy and should be fact-checked on a per-article basis. Please note sources on this list are not considered fake news unless specifically written in the reasoning section for that source. See all Questionable sources.
- Overall, we rate Touiao as left-center biased and questionable based on the promotion of pro-Chinese government propaganda and pseudoscience, the use of poor sources, and numerous failed fact checks.
Detailed Report
Reasoning: Poor Sourcing, State Propaganda, Censorship, Pseudoscience, Failed Fact Checks
Bias Rating: LEFT-CENTER
Factual Reporting: MIXED
Country: China
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: TOTAL OPPRESSION
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: High Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: LOW CREDIBILITY
History
Toutiao, also known as Jinri Toutiao or “Today’s Headlines,” is a Chinese news and information content platform, a core product of ByteDance, the company that also owns TikTok. Launched in 2012, it rapidly grew to become a leading platform in China’s algorithmic news market, integrating news content from various sources. It stands out for its use of artificial intelligence to create, aggregate, and distribute news information. With over 120 million daily users in China and an average user engagement of more than 74 minutes per day, Toutiao is significantly influential in the digital news space.
Read our profile on Chinese media and government.
Funded by / Ownership
Toutiao is owned by ByteDance, a major player in the technology industry known for its successful apps like TikTok. The platform has achieved a valuation of $20 billion, backed by investors like Sequoia Capital and CCB International. Funding is derived through investors and advertising.
Analysis / Bias
Toutiao’s recommendation algorithm, which personalizes news delivery based on user characteristics such as age, gender, interests, and social relationships, has raised concerns about algorithmic opacity and bias. The lack of transparency in its algorithmic processes and the potential biases ingrained in these algorithms reflect wider societal biases. Studies have shown that algorithms, including those used by ByteDance for platforms like Toutiao and TikTok, can exhibit biases based on race, gender, and other user characteristics.
This raises important questions about the influence of these biases on the information users receive and the potential for creating “algorithmic stereotypes” that could impact users’ perceptions and online experiences. Moreover, the concept of “filter bubbles” and “information cocoons” suggests that users might be exposed to a narrow range of information, reinforcing existing viewpoints and limiting exposure to diverse perspectives.
An analysis of dozens of articles reflects a propagandistic bias in favor of China’s President Xi Jinping with articles such as this Xi Jinping’s trip to Shanghai丨Serving the real economy and promoting high-level opening-up – Entering the Shanghai Futures Exchange. This story is sourced from the Questionable CCTV, which frequently promotes state propaganda.
Another article promotes pseudoscience This fruit is the “cough killer”, you must eat more in autumn and winter. While pears may have a mild soothing effect on the throat, it is misleading to claim they can prevent or “Kill” coughing.
In general, Toutiao holds left-leaning biases in favor of the Chinese Communist Party and frequently promotes propaganda and false claims, as evidenced by numerous failed fact checks.
Failed Fact Checks
- China’s population is 1.42 billion in total. – False
- Photographs show a bird warming a frozen puppy in Montana. – False
- British Prime Minister Boris’ shoe broke during a visit. – False
- Yesterday a convoy of more than 60 US military vehicles that were stealing oil from Syria under protection by six armoured vehicles was attacked by more than 40 Iranian kamikaze unmanned drones in the Syrian border area. – False
- In the early morning hours of July 16, the Russian air force struck an arms depot in the Ukrainian port of Odesa. – False
- See More
Overall, we rate Touiao as left-center biased and questionable based on the promotion of pro-Chinese government propaganda and pseudoscience, the use of poor sources, and numerous failed fact checks. (D. Van Zandt 12/03/2023)
Source: https://www.toutiao.com/
Last Updated on December 3, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check
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