While TikTok‘s “for you” page may be crammed with innumerable content creators generating things the algorithm thinks you’ll enjoy, the popular social media app is making it even easier to venture out and discover users and sort through content you never knew existed.

TikTok’s new feature

TikTok debuted its new creative “Discover List” feature which highlights the app’s many “icons, inventors, foodies, change-makers, and originators.”

For those curious about how the content makers that made the cut were chosen, the list was apparently generated by looking at indicators like “engagement, views, video creations, account growth, likes,” and “interactions with followers” among others.

According to TikTok’s newsroom announcement:

“Creators are the heart and soul of TikTok. They spend countless hours creating content that inspires and brings joy to the more than 1 billion people who are part of the TikTok community. They’re pioneers making a positive impact in their local communities, tastemakers whipping up one-of-a-kind creations in the kitchen, and trendsetters originating key cultural moments that are shaking things up in the entertainment industry.”

While the use of metrics to promote certain creators has long been a contentious topic on the internet — particularly on YouTube, where the metrics used have been criticized for shifting arbitrarily — the new feature also helps TikTok address a long-standing issue: giving credit where credit is due.

Many have questioned whether TikTok has given the stars enough credit for their efforts on the platform, which has spawned some of the internet’s most popular trends. With their new “Discover List” feature, it appears that the app is finally bringing attention to the greatest names in the industry.

Category breakdown

There are five possible categories for highlighted creators at launch: icons, innovators, originators, foodies, and change-makers. TikTok explained what each category implies on its official site, noting that icons are creators that are “well-known up and down the [for you page] and outside of TikTok.”

Originators are creators who have “created viral dances, songs, styles, and more,” while innovators are “pioneers in their industries, constantly pushing limits.” Finally, chefs who put a “unique spin” on food-related content are featured in the foodie category, while change-makers are advocates and educators who aren’t hesitant to “stand up and speak out.”

While TikTok hasn’t said how often the list will be updated, it’s clear that this is a significant step forward for the site and might help their creators achieve more popularity.

Head over to TikTok’s newsroom to see the entire list of highlighted creators. In related TikTok news, the app recently launched its own radio station.

Photo via TikTok/Yaw Asiedu