TikTok is blocking searches for WGA amid the ongoing writers strike
TikTok is blocking searches for WGA amid the ongoing writers strike
Users on TikTok searching for “WGA” are met with a screen claiming that the phrase “may be associated with behavior or content that violates our guidelines.” No videos return. Users are also unable to search for the “WGA” hashtag.
TikTok has also blocked the search term “WGA strike.”
Additionally, it appears that TikTok is blocking results from any simple search that includes “WGA” in the search term. Including “WGA” in addition to another word — like “WGA support” or “WGA strong” — blocks results.
Update (9/11/23): A TikTok spokesperson told Media Matters that “WGA has been inadvertently blocked as part of the platforms’ protections against QAnon conspiracy theories.” (WWG1WGA is a common QAnon phrase.) The spokesperson added that searches for “Writers Guild of America” and “Writers Guild of America Strike” were not impacted. Searches for “WGA” and related terms now appear to function normally.
(Thanks mike591, SCB, and others for putting in the comments)
Update (9/11/23): A TikTok spokesperson told Media Matters that “WGA has been inadvertently blocked as part of the platforms' protections against QAnon conspiracy theories.” Searches for “WGA” and related terms now appear to function normally.
Looks like it got fixed
I hear that QAnon talks a lot about GOP, Republicans, conservatism, border walls, etc. - but I don't see them censoring that
Why let facts get in the way of a good outrage?
Users on TikTok searching for “WGA” are met with a screen claiming that the phrase “may be associated with behavior or content that violates our guidelines.
Well, yeah... of course they're against unions.
China is a far right authoritarian government, of course they'd hate unions and force "private" companies to do shit like this.
Authoritarian Communist which is the top left of the common left to right authoritarian to libertarian political square.
The important thing is they're central government dictates what the economic goals of the quarter will be and the various districts with to achieve it or lie to pretend they achieved it.
That contrasts with the rest of the world where the economy does what it does and we learn how the quarter was after it's over.
Using tiktok violates my guidelines.
What the fuck does that even achieve? What is the game here?
Nothing, because it's not what happened. They blocked qanon conspiracies and caught this by mistake.
I had the same thing happen when I was searching for "oxy carpet cleaner refills" and came up with no results because of anti-drug searching. I suppose this means they have a conspiracy against cheaper alternatives to carpet cleaners?
I'm sure it just thinks the acronym is for something else that's truly dangerous, and I mean that with all the sarcasm I can muster. Wild Gang Attacks, or maybe Waterproof Gazelle Assassins. Something it's protecting the public from.
They said QAnon (i.e.: WWG1WGA)
It's an anti-porn measure. WGA stands for We Guarantee Ass.
White Gay Authoritatians
The amount of censorship on these mainstream platforms is a major reason why I don’t use them anymore.
These shitbags censor so much without even telling you. It’s insane.
Suppressing the timely resolution of this strike allows new media companies that don't follow the same rules to fill the demand. I'm sure TikTok benefits from that to some small degree, but they probably suppress protest footage and related as a default to preserve "social harmony".
Update (9/11/23): A TikTok spokesperson told Media Matters that “WGA has been inadvertently blocked as part of the platforms' protections against QAnon conspiracy theories.” (WWG1WGA is a common QAnon phrase.) The spokesperson added that searches for “Writers Guild of America” and “Writers Guild of America Strike” were not impacted. Searches for “WGA” and related terms now appear to function normally.
Literally the first thing in the article.