Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Following a recent service disruption, TikTok users in the United States report noticeable changes to the platform, sparking accusations of censorship and heightened content moderation. Many users say they’ve experienced restrictions, including fewer live broadcasts, removed posts, and flagged content for activities previously deemed acceptable.
TikTok, in a statement to Reuters on January 26, 2025, denied altering its policies. “Our policies and algorithms did not change over the weekend,” the platform said. “We are working hard to restore our operations in the U.S. to normal and anticipate some temporary instability as we recover, which may affect TikTok features or user access.”
However, users have observed increased warnings about misinformation, prompts to verify sources, and limited search results. Some allege that comments with phrases like “Free Palestine” and “Free Luigi” have been removed. Luigi Mangione, referenced in the latter phrase, is accused of murdering a UnitedHealth executive. TikTok stated that it prohibits content promoting violent individuals or hate.
Content Creators Affected
Prominent TikTok creators report being impacted by these changes. Pat Loller, a comedian and veteran with 1.3 million followers, shared that a satirical video he created about billionaire Elon Musk’s perceived Nazi salute at an inauguration was flagged as misinformation. The video, which garnered over one million views, faced restrictions limiting how widely it could be shared.
“This is the first time I’ve seen this happen,” Loller said. “It says, ‘sharing restricted to one chat at a time.’”
Lisa Cline, another user, faced difficulties posting a video critical of former President Donald Trump. She resorted to Meta’s Threads platform to express her frustration. “I tried posting this six times on TikTok, but it wouldn’t allow me because of censorship,” Cline said.
The video referred to Trump’s response to Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde during a prayer service at the National Cathedral in Washington, where she urged him to show compassion to those in fear.
Political Bias Accusations
Some users believe TikTok’s moderation disproportionately targets political commentary. Danisha Carter, a political and social commentator with two million followers, said her account was permanently banned after the service outage. TikTok cited “multiple policy violations” as the reason but did not provide specific details.
Carter’s last livestream criticized wealthy tech executives’ influence on presidential campaigns and American businesses. “This has become a political target,” Carter stated, noting that TikTok’s decision appears final.
Other users report being flagged for non-political comments, fueling concerns about moderation criteria. Mila Ortiz, a data analyst and content creator, shared that she received a warning for a seemingly innocuous comment on another video. She also deleted around 15 videos supporting Vice President Kamala Harris and opposing Trump after receiving similar notifications.
“This feels random and sudden. It’s like they’re trying to push me off the platform,” Ortiz said.
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Free Speech Debate Intensifies
The alleged increase in moderation coincides with former President Donald Trump signing an executive order aimed at restoring free speech and addressing perceived censorship on social media platforms.
TikTok’s actions have reignited debates over free speech and the balance between content moderation and user expression. Critics argue that the platform’s policies may disproportionately silence marginalized voices or stifle political dissent.
While TikTok claims the disruptions are temporary, the platform’s handling of user concerns continues to spark controversy, underscoring the broader tension between free expression and platform regulation in the U.S.
(Becky)
