TikTok Censorship

TikTok is a social media app that allows users to create and watch short videos on any topic of their choice. These videos can range anywhere from 15 seconds to three minutes. Its mission is to spark joy and inspire creativity in their users. The content varies depending on the video. It is a rapidly growing app that is utilized by millions of users across the globe. The app is available on all ios and android devices. Tiktok was the most downloaded app in 2020. By the beginning of 2021 it had over a billion active users. There have been rising concerns over the way that the app censors different videos and the outcomes from videos being censored. Users are faced with sudden disappearances of videos, comments and hashtags and don’t always understand why.

History

The app was launched in September 2016 by the Chinese company ByteDance Ltd. In China, the app is known as Douyin. The apps have the same user interface, users are just unable to see content from the other app. Tiktok blew up after it merged with the app Musicly on August 2nd, 2018. The app is available in 39 languages and over 155 countries. In 2020, Trump’s administration tried banning Tiktok in the U.S because of national security concerns. However, it never actually happened and the app is still up and running.

Features

• Video Uploading
• Video Editing
• Comments and Likes
• Filters
• Duets
• Hashtags
• Search tools

Recommendation Algorithm

Certain videos can get blocked from showing up on people’s “for you” page on the app. Although it is unclear exactly how the algorith works, it uses a combination of how you interact with different videos, users, likes, comments and hashtags on the app. This algorithm is what decides what videos each user ends up seeing. While this algorithm helps make good recommendations for content for each user, it also allows moderators to censor certain videos and block them from appearing.

False Negatives

Things that should be censored on the app end up still appearing on peoples "for you" pages

False Positives

Things that shouldn't be censored end up getting censored

Ethical Implications

Censorship on the App

Censorship has been affecting many users/videos posted on the app and comes in different forms. Videos are censored through the combination of technology and human moderators. The types of videos censored range from different political videos, to LGBT to people with disabilities, different races or for people that the app deems ugly. The list goes on and on. If your video is flagged or reported it will be removed by the app and your account can be temporarily or permanently banned. Instead of removing your video, Tik Tok may just prevent your videos from appearing on many peoples’ “for you” page on the app. Tiktok has come under scrutiny recently for some of their censorship policies and how they moderate different videos. Another concern is that content from black creaters have been censored. Tiktok has admitted to censoring certain content in order to try and prevent bullying. Tiktok’s rules on censorship are constantly changing and it is not always clear what these policies are or what content ends up actually getting censored.

Censoring Comments

It is also possible for tiktok to censor different comments on a video.

Censoring Black Language

Tiktok censors certain phrases that people want to put in their bios on the app. "Black Lives Matter", "Supporting black people", and "supporting black voices" are all flagged as inappropriate and are not allowed. However, if you replaced the word "black" with "white" then those phrases would be allowed. Guidelines are enforced very differently on the app depending on what types of people you are talking about. Those in minorities are affected much greater.

Banning Certain Hashtags

Tiktok has banned and continues to ban certain hashtags on the app. Certain hashtags related to LGBTQ+ have been banned in multiple languages. Any hashtag related to the Qanon move has been removed because it violates the app's guidelines. Tiktok came under scrutiny after the death of George Floyd, hashtags such as #GeorgeFloyd and #BlackLivesMatter were blocked from the app. These hashtags had zero videos attached to them if you clicked on them. Tiktok apologized and said it was a temporary technical glitch.

Censoring Political Speech

Moderators on Tiktok are instructed to censor any videos that happen to mention Tiananmen Square, Tibetan independence or certain banned religious groups.

Policies

Documents were released about an old TikTok censoring policy reffered to as the “Ugly Content Policy” had moderators on the app to limit the amount of videos that they deemed as having physical flaws. For instance, people that had unusual body types, ugly facial features, people that seemed poor, the list goes on and on. The specific words used in the policy that were instructed to be supressed were “Abnormal body shape”, “ugly facial looks”, “dwarfism”, “obvious beer belly”, “too many wrinkles”, and “eye disorders”. The point of this policy was to try and keep current users, as well as, reach potential new ones. Tiktok was worried that by not suppressing some of these videos, it would harm their image.

Censorship Outcomes

Account being shadow banned

Tiktok may shadowban your account. Many users have been suspicious of accounts being shadowbanned however Tiktok continues to deny that they have done such a thing.

Temporary ban on your account

Tiktok may shadowban your account. Many users have been suspicious of accounts being shadowbanned however Tiktok continues to deny that they have done such a thing. If your Tiktok account is temporarily banned for content violations, your account will be suspending for a range of time between 24 and 48 hours. During this period of time, you will be unable to upload, comment or performs edits to your account. Different users will also not be able to view your account.

Permanent ban on your account

If you continue to have multiple violations, then your account will be permanently banned and you will not be able to reverse it. Account holders will loss all information attached to the account.

What to do if your account or content is flagged or reported

• You can appeal through the app
• If your account should be restored you will be restored access to your account and the content will be restored

Unrealistic Outcomes

Many times appeals are never responded to and users are left unhappy.