"TikTok Is Dead": Social Media Slams The App For Removing "Free Palestine" Comment
After days of temporary ban and threat, TikTok started to restore its service in US. Restoration of the app started after President Donald Trump extended the ban threat. However, it is being alleged that the platform is removing pro-Palestine content was being removed from the app. Social media users are now complaining that the platform is removing comments including the phrase “Free Palestine”. Some users even received notifications citing violation of TikTok’s community guidelines against hate speech.
Since people started to notice the changes after the temporary ban, netizens raise speculations regarding political influences on content moderation. TikTok users indicate a shift in how political content is managed on the platform.
Social media users now speculate that one of the reasons why TikTok was banned was because it was ‘overwhelmingly Pro-Palestinian’ and spreads ‘anti-Israeli propaganda’. But since it has been restored in the US, users have noticed censorship of Palestinian content.
Reportedly, users outside US have not noticed the same level of censorship on the app.
Outraged netizens slammed US saying that “So much for free speech”. They shared screen recording of the content being removed, and said that “TikTok is dead”.
TikTok is dead. “Free Palestine” is now considered a symbol of hate speech. pic.twitter.com/QOPQVqsoEZ
— naivety (@AlexNaivety) January 21, 2025
One user said the whole ban TikTok was not at a ‘China issue’ but was “always about what TikTok was able to do in spreading awareness about Palestine”, and Israel was unable to influence the platform, like it allegedly do on X, and Meta platforms.
One user said that TikTok has “bent the knee”, as the app now considers “Free Palestine” as ‘hate speech’.
Well well well.
Tik Tok is back…and guess what?
“Free Palestine” is hate speech and instantly deleted whenever you comment the phrase now.
They bent the knee. pic.twitter.com/GKkwMNz7kN
— Chief Trumpster (@ChiefTrumpster) January 22, 2025
At the same time, users also came forward by showing that TikTok still have contents with “free palestine” hashtags.
People are now saying Free Palestine is being unfairly censored on TikTok
It’s still a working hashtag with lots of content pic.twitter.com/uFaJimOVSf
— Sarah Sansoni (@sarahsansoni) January 22, 2025
One user said that while four of the “free Palestine comments” were instantly removed, two such comments were not removed. The user said that it was not “sure if this is a partial rollout or being tested now”.
Four “free Palestine comments” were insta-removed. Two weren’t removed.
Not sure if this is a partial rollout or being tested now.
Not good!
— Chief Trumpster (@ChiefTrumpster) January 22, 2025
