Summary
TikTok users reported that searches for anti-Trump content, such as “Donald Trump rigged election,” returned “No results found” messages in the U.S., while the same searches worked abroad.
Users demonstrated via VPNs that the restrictions seem specific to U.S. accounts, sparking accusations of censorship and claims TikTok is becoming “Trump’s propaganda arm.”
Some anti-Trump hashtags also appear blocked, while pro-Trump terms remain visible.
TikTok has not commented on the issue, fueling further concerns about free speech and potential political influence over the platform.
It would have been better for it to just have been banned and be done with it. Move on. Now, we will have the same issue we have with Twitter. People refuse to move on despite how terrible the platform is because they are addicted to it.
If it had been banned, it would have, likely, opened the door for a new social media landscape to take shape. Sure, banning isn’t good, but turning into what it’s becoming is, arguably, worse.
What’s more, now we know it would have been “banned” only because it wasn’t pro Trump.
Twitter is not as addicting as TikTok is. Using Twitter doesn’t form psychological dependence to nearly the scale that TikTok does. This is like comparing a ban against soda versus a ban against cigarettes. If soda is banned then a large number of previous soda-drinkers will just quit drinking soda. If cigarettes are banned, it’s not as likely that cigarette-smokers will suddenly decide to quit as a result. Granted, nicotine is known to be one of the most chemically addicting substances to mankind, but I think the comparison is still appropriate.