Look, I’m an old cynical man. As such TikTok is hardly my jam, but as a dad any way information can be provided to kids to protect themselves online is a huge plus.
As such, this new music video may be worth a watch on TikTok.
We live in a digital world, and with the good comes an increased risk of scams, AI deepfakes, and misleading information. But despite the warnings, many of us are too trusting. Alarmingly, four in ten New Zealanders (39%) fail to regularly verify information before sharing it.
To help tackle the issue, TikTok AUNZ is launching its first-ever commercial song, Catch, Check, Choose, with the aim of getting people to stop and think before responding or reacting. Written, produced, and
performed by musician and creator Dom Littrich, the original track harnesses the power of music to remind us of the three Cs:
Catch yourself before reacting
Check the facts, and
Choose what to do next
The song, music video, and dance moves are designed to educate through entertainment, exploring common traps that many Kiwis encounter daily. ‘Detective Twisty’, played by Littrich, debunks the suspicious situations from AI-generated bunnies to a phishing text from ‘Uncle Paul’, and uses humour to land how, in moments of doubt, remind yourself to Catch, Check, Choose.
The three-step framework was developed in consultation with leading experts, including critical thinking expert and Senior Lecturer at Auckland University, Dr Maree Davies. “I fully support campaigns such as this one,” says Dr Davies. “Whether we are looking for information online or having a conversation in our community, our first instinct is often an emotional reaction. What’s great about the 3Cs is that it trains us to build a cognitive speed bump: to catch that first reaction, check if the facts actually hold up, and consciously choose our response. The Three C’s remind us that critical thinking is not just about spotting false information. It is about making deliberate, ethical decisions about how we engage with others online. By learning to Catch, Check, and Choose, we can all contribute to a safer and more informed digital world.”
TikTok’s Trust & Safety lead, Dr Jed Horner agrees and said this issue isn’t exclusive to any one place; it’s
everywhere.
“We’re proud of the work that we do to keep our platform safe, but I think we all have a role to play in
helping people navigate the digital world safely. It has been amazing to see how many creators, experts and businesses are throwing their names behind the campaign to help share the three Cs.”
The campaign comes at a pivotal time, with TikTok-commissioned research revealing a four in ten Kiwis
(39%) fail to regularly verify information before sharing it.
The research also found:
● A third (33%) of New Zealanders have felt embarrassed, annoyed, or frustrated after discovering information they shared was false or misleading.
● Only one in five (19%) New Zealanders corrected or deleted something they had shared once they
learned it was false.
● Nearly half (46%) of New Zealanders became more cautious online after previously believing something false or misleading.
Shame and embarrassment are often cited as barriers for people reporting or sharing their experiences,
which only further perpetuates the cycle. So to amplify the Catch Check Choose message across Aotearoa,
TikTok has called upon its NZ community. Comedian Joe Daymond, mum and teacher Tori Ratima, Deaf
content creator Naketa Philips (@naksigns), Futsal player and doctor Alosi Bloomfield and mortgage adviser William Tieu (@yourfinancialengineer) have all shared their experiences on TikTok and challenged
the stigma head-on.
Ensuring that the message reaches as many people as possible, choreographer and director Stephen
Tannos, best known for his work on television shows including The Masked Singer and So You Think You Can Dance, as well as choreographing performances for Rita Ora and Jessica Mauboy, has created a bespoke dance to Catch Check Choose. Local Kiwi creators Micah and JD cameo in the music video.
Dom Littrich said he’s no cyber safety guru, but he thinks the song is good and will have people singing and dancing their way to safety.
“The song is really catchy and just gets stuck in your head, which is exactly what the message needs to do. If a catchy hook is what it takes to get people thinking twice before they share something or do something, I’ll take that as a win. We’ve even made a dance to the chorus, so there’s really no excuse not to join in,” said Dom Littrich.
Critical thinking doesn’t have to be complicated. Catch yourself. Check the facts. Choose what to do next.
Share your story on TikTok #CatchCheckChoose, learn the dance or just hit play on Catch, Check, Choose.
You can find the song on @domlittrich and @tiktok_nz, or stream on Spotify.
For more helpful resources, visit education.govt.nz or netsafe.org.nz
