19 TikTok influencers from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia—with a combined following of more than 15 million—have pledged to counter online misinformation with their participation in the inaugural Trusted Creators Lab, a programme implemented by Love Frankie, in partnership with Temasek Foundation and TikTok. 

This was announced at the Trusted Creators Regional Summit on 28 August 2025, which was attended by Singapore’s Minister of State for Education and Digital Development and Information, Jasmin Lau.

Over the next seven months, the Trusted Creators Lab will equip the Southeast Asian content creators with new knowledge, tools, strategies and mentorship that will enable them to effectively counter misinformation while producing engaging yet accurate content.

This initiative is a response to the proliferation of misinformation on social media platforms. According to the 2025 Global Digital Report by Meltwater and We are Social, nearly two-thirds of Southeast Asia’s population are on social media and more than a third are using it as a source of news. However, a UNESCO survey also found that two-thirds of digital content creators do not regularly verify their facts before sharing, although many say they want to learn how to.

The Trusted Creators Lab steps in to bridge the gap, with practical training and mentorship to help creators produce compelling, credible content. Southeast Asia currently lacks a coordinated network of credible content creators, and efforts to promote information integrity often remain siloed across countries and platforms. The establishment of such a network for creators is crucial and timely. Additionally, it will serve as a creative space for influencers to experiment with new formats to counter misinformation in engaging ways, and encourage collaboration among the 19 creators, who hail from diverse backgrounds.

The Trusted Creators Lab builds on the foundation of Temasek Foundation’s Asia Journalism Fellowship (AJF), which champions quality journalism and media development across Asia. Since 2009, the AJF has brought together a network of around 250 mainstream media journalists who are committed to fair and accurate reporting and responsible media practices.

The Trusted Creators Lab continues this commitment to truth and integrity, now with an expanded focus on the digital space. Over time, the Trusted Creators Lab aims to grow a regional network of responsible and influential voices.

“Content creators hold immense power to shape public opinion. Through this programme, we aim to explore how information is used, interpreted, and shared—and to inspire greater care and responsibility in the creation of digital content. Our goal is to build a network of influential creators across Southeast Asia and channel their collective reach toward positive impact," shared a spokesperson from Temasek Foundation. 

"We’re excited to be part of this meaningful initiative," added KahnJi Siriprapa Weerachaising, Outreach and Partnerships Manager from TikTok. "We recognise that creators play a vital role in shaping the digital information space. Through this programme, we’re proud to support and amplify creators who are producing engaging, factual content and to provide mentorship that helps them grow as trusted voices on the platform."

“Through this programme, we’re building a network of trusted media advocates. Now more than ever, audiences deserve stories that entertain and are anchored in integrity and truth. By working with some of the region’s most influential young voices, we hope to inspire a generation of creators to champion ethical, fact-based storytelling across every platform,” said Matt Love, Co-founder and Director of Love Frankie.

One of the creators, Mathilda Huang, shared, "After the short Ask Me Anything segment, I was impressed and extremely grateful as a creator with TikTok’s efforts to combat misinformation by having guardrails  and teams dedicated to content moderation."

The two-day Regional Summit, which brought the 19 creators together for the first time, included practical sessions on fact-checking, community engagement and ethical storytelling. It also included a visit to TikTok’s Transparency and Accountability Centre, which gave creators a behind-the-scenes look at content moderation and platform integrity practices.

Following the summit, the creators will return home, where they will engage in targeted masterclasses, mentorships, and content labs to develop a series of TikTok videos focused on media literacy, fact-checking, and recognising online misinformation. 

The inaugural run of the Trusted Creators Lab will culminate in January 2026 when the creators’ individual videos and collaborative reels are officially launched and amplified on TikTok. They are set to be viewed by more than five million TikTok users across Southeast Asia.