- On Sunday, a submersible that takes tourists to see the Titanic shipwreck went missing.
- TikTokers have been reacting to the latest updates on the search to find the vessel.
TikTokers are flooding the app with videos as they react in real time to the latest developments relating to the submersible which has gone missing with five passengers onboard — and gaining millions of views in the process.
The US Coast Guard is currently involved in the search for a submersible that takes tourists to visit the Titanic shipwreck, which lost contact with its mother ship less than two hours after its descent off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on Sunday morning. The vessel, which is called the Titan, contains a supply of emergency oxygen that will likely last the five passengers onboard until Thursday afternoon E.T., per officials.
As updates about the search for the missing vessel are being released by officials and mainstream news outlets, TikTokers are filming their reactions to the unfolding situation, and condensing the information into short-form explanations to share with their followers.
@creeptime Additional updates to come in the unexplained disappearance of the Ocean Gate “Titan” submarine ##missingsubmarine##submarine##titanic##hamishharding##foryoupage##fyp ♬ Creepy and simple horror background music(1070744) - howlingindicator
Many people appear to be turning to TikTok for updates
Creators have received hundreds of thousands or even millions of views, and generated discussion among thousands of commenters, after broadcasting some of the lesser-known facts about the situation, such as the names of some of the passengers on board, including British billionaire and aircraft brokerage owner Hamish Harding.
One TikToker startled viewers by sharing reports that the passengers in the vessel are dead-bolted in with at least 17 bolts, so the submersible can only be opened from the outside — an observation that was first shared by the CBS News correspondent David Pogue, who previously took a trip on the vessel to see the wreck of the Titanic.
The video received 1.3 million views and horrified many viewers who tried to imagine what the passengers could be experiencing.
@buster Missing Titanic Sub UPDATE‼️‼️‼️ #Titanic #submarine #Buster ♬ Solitude (Felsmann + Tiley Reinterpretation)
Another TikTok, in which a user reacted to screenshots of the inside of the submersible, which have since resurfaced and gone viral online, elicited a similar response from commenters who said they were concerned about how the passengers might currently be feeling inside the vessel.
@nikki_mackk Replying to @Reanna sooo small! #titanic #submarine ♬ original sound - Nikki Mack
"Just to think at this very sec they are scared and suffering and I couldn't imagine this in real time," wrote one top commenter.
The popularity of these TikToks runs the risk of spreading misinformation
One of the biggest tidbits of information that's causing a stir on TikTok is reports from a CBS TV segment that showed that the Titan submersible was piloted using a modified Logitech gamepad controller. A number of TikTok users said they felt alarmed by this, as well as by other quotes given to CBS by Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate Expeditions, the company which conducts deep-sea tours in the Titan submersible.
@ahrenfn Replying to @shelbiorozco120 Update on the Missing Submarine that went to view the submerged Titanic! The race is ON. #titanic #breakingnews #news #submarine #missing #hamishharding ♬ Spooky, quiet, scary atmosphere piano songs - Skittlegirl Sound
For example, Rush said that some parts inside the submersible were "off-the-shelf components" and that one of its interior lights was bought from the recreational-vehicle company CamperWorld.
While this may be shocking to lay viewers, marine scientist Peter Girguis told Insider that submersibles are better off with simpler hardware, as it makes them more reliable, saying that to his knowledge, other submersibles — including those used by Japan, China, and France — all "strive to use the simplest components to control the vehicle, and to ensure the safety of the personnel."
While the TikTok accounts of official news outlets are also gaining traction, many popular videos are posted by creators whose bios describe them as entrepreneurs, podcasters, or even satirical accounts. Many are presented in the style of a news bulletin, but do not state where the information they're posting about is from, provide links to verified sources, or offer expert commentary alongside their own.
In many of the comments sections, people can be found speculating and debating about unverified information, such as whether the vessel may be caught amid the Titanic wreckage or what the chances of a rescue are.
A Pew Research report published in November 2022 showed that a growing number of US adults, especially those under 30, are turning to TikTok as a news source, which has raised concerns about the potential spread of misinformation.
For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here.