In New York on January 25, U.S. TikTok users are noticing changes on the app they once viewed as a free speech haven, citing signs of censorship after an executive order from President Donald Trump revived the platform, which is owned by China's ByteDance.
Users report a shift in TikTok's experience following the app's update under a new law, signed due to the Biden administration's national security concerns with bipartisan backing, mandating its sale to a U.S. buyer. Trump has pledged to resolve the ban, with various bidders involved, some having close ties to the new Republican president.
Some users observe decreased livestreams and increased removal or flagging of content for violating community guidelines, actions that were previously permissible.
TikTok stated to Reuters that its policies and algorithms had not changed over the weekend, expressing efforts to restore U.S. operations amid potential temporary instability affecting app features and access.
Changes include heightened content moderation, such as restricted search results, misinformation warnings, and prompts to verify sources. Some users mention comments like "Free Palestine" and "Free Luigi" being removed, which were allowed previously.
Trump issued an executive order on Monday aiming to uphold freedom of speech and counter censorship, particularly on social media platforms.
Notable figures like content creator Pat Loller encountered restrictions on sharing content after some posts were flagged or limited, impacting their reach among users.
TikTok users, such as Lisa Cline, describe facing challenges sharing certain content critical of Trump on the platform due to censorship concerns.
Danisha Carter, a political commentator, shared her account suspension experience, mentioning a perceived political targeting issue and lack of clarity from TikTok about the reasons behind the ban.
Concerns about targeted flagging for various comments, including those unrelated to politics, have been raised by users like Ada "Mila" Ortiz, who received strikes for seemingly innocuous remarks, leading to feature restrictions and content removal.