Users on TikTok searching for “WGA” are met with a screen claiming that the phrase “may be associated with behavior or content that violates our guidelines.” No videos return. Users are also unable to search for the “WGA” hashtag.
TikTok has also blocked the search term “WGA strike.”
Additionally, it appears that TikTok is blocking results from any simple search that includes “WGA” in the search term. Including “WGA” in addition to another word — like “WGA support” or “WGA strong” — blocks results.
Yet another demonstration of the dangers of allowing a communication channel to be controlled by an entity whose motives aren’t aligned with what the users of that channel actually want / need.
Fediverse is the best collective action I can think of against this kind of censorship.
It’s been wild over the last few years to see authoritarians cheering on corporate social media censorship, as though it will never be turned on them.
Fuck censorship.
My guess is that the studios and/or right-wing trolls reported WGA posts as abuse, and “the algorithm” did the rest.
Yep. Another problem with allowing content to be spoon-fed to us by The Algorithm.
Yeah my algo plays a fair amount of WGA content.
Update (9/11/23): A TikTok spokesperson told Media Matters that “WGA has been inadvertently blocked as part of the platforms’ protections against QAnon conspiracy theories.” Searches for “WGA” and related terms now appear to function normally.
Well that’s good
WTF? What do they gain or lose from all of this!?
My guy do you really not understand the shared desire of corporations to prevent solidarity and organization among workers?
I get that. I just didn’t see how TikTok benefited from all of this directly. Then someone reminded me that they’re from China, and it all made sense now.
Realistically the only way China is particularly relevant here is just how blatant it is. It’s in the interest of all corporations to suppress pro-union sentiment.
How often do you think organized protest goes uninterrupted by force in
mainlandChina?Oh! Right. I keep forgetting they’re in China.
Yep. All for their Glorious Marxist/Maoist Revolution! Yep. That’s sure creating a worker’s paradise…
Communism for proles, lux lyf for xipooh
Probably money. Given enough money, I’m sure tiktok will ban any search term
These guys can’t even commie right…
Jfc…
Does anyone even care about the plight of labour anymore? Politically wise?
China? The source of most products keeping our capitalist world going? What about it was supposed to be communist again?
I was thinking the same thing!
Strikebreaking for the Glorious Worker’s Revolution! That’s how it’s supposed to work, right?
???
That’s TikTok, from a private corporation. They do not represent the CPC or the Chinese Government.
China doesn’t want people to know about the strength of unity
Hmm. How will I hack my Windows XP to activate it if I can’t search for Windows Genuine Advantage?
I miss the good ’ ol FCKGW-RHQQ2-YXRKT-8TG6W-2B7Q8 days.
