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.
This is ridiculous. I provided a screenshot disproving this 2 days ago. It’s literally just trying to stop the spread of the conspiracy theory saying Trump rigged the election. I also just searched Fuck Trump and Trump Racist and got anti Trump results for both of those.
This article is what misinformation looks like.
The real question is why did the same search show blocked results in the US, but unblocked results when on a VPN outside the US?
I installed TikTok specifically to look at this. I got “no results” in the US, but DID get search results when on a VPN to the UK.
The really interesting bit is that now, that it’s all gone public, I get “no results” both ways. Cleared cache and data between searches even.
Imagine posting some proof, getting downvoted, then coming back to post the same ‘proof’ again without any additional information or explanation.
The point is, Trump made remarks recently directly pertaining, and to some, admitting, to rigging the election. This is news.
A “Fuck Trump” B “Trump Racist” and C “Trump election lies” are either (A and B) search terms that are clearly made by users who already have their mind made up, or © just really old and ongoing news that is not going to generate a surge of traffic.
It’s a clever strategy, and it empirically works because you bought it. If TikTok was caught blocking all anti Trump content? That would be over. Everyone leaves. It’s too obvious. But if TikTok only blocks some anti Trump content, when it’s relevant, then “oops we fixed it” a week later when the media cycle has moved on? That can have a real effect on traffic to that content. Those creators don’t get views—don’t get paid. Abusing plausible deniability to create material consequences.
What once set TikTok apart, literally a week ago, was that this didn’t happen. Not subjected to the political pressure from Israel and Zionist media, TikTok allowed a relatively uncensored expression of the violence and material conditions in Gaza and fostered the significant growth of the online pro-Palestinian movement.
Something as cool as this will certainly never happen on TikTok again.