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Every niche except moderate or conservative politics. They are incredibly aggressive with censorship, along the same lines (progressive views) as the other plat

Every niche except moderate or conservative politics. They are incredibly aggressive with censorship, along the same lines (progressive views) as the other platforms, but with even less transparency. It’s hard for me to feel comfortable with their success in garnering massive network effects when they suppress some ideologies and are okay with others.

paulv 5y ago
I know a significant number of progressive users that frequently get their videos taken down or have some videos "shadowbanned" where the engagement metrics are dramatically different than even their non-popular videos.
- throwawaysea 5y ago
  One basic complaint I have about TikTok is their lack of transparency with bans. TikTok recently banned Amala Ekpunobi (https://thefederalist.com/2021/04/26/tiktok-blacklists-gen-z-prageru-ambassador-amala-ekpunobi/ https://thefederalist.com/2021/04/26/tiktok-blacklists-gen-z...) and no reason was given. The same thing happened to PragerU’s account not long ago. I know PragerU has a bad reputation and is hated by the political left, but the majority of their videos are reasonable and fully sourced - I just don’t think they deserve that kind of ban. Ultimately I don’t like massive tech platforms controlling what information can and can’t reach the rest of society. At their scale, they have the power to propagandize by suppressing and amplifying select information, and they can’t be trusted with it.
user982 5y ago
Holy shit! You were censored for wanting lower taxes?
1270018080 5y ago
Doesn't it get tiring constructing some imaginary victimization conspiracy? If they're getting banned for "conservative politics," they're probably not talking about small government or lower taxes. We all know what they're talking about.
- throwawaysea 5y ago
  > Doesn't it get tiring constructing some imaginary victimization conspiracy? Why are you dismissing what I have observed as a “victimization conspiracy”? > We all know what they're talking about. What am I talking about? — This is Hacker News, so please don’t bring this type of confrontational dialog to the conversation. If you have something substantial to add, go ahead. But opening your comment with an ad hominem attack against me is not helpful.
Barrin92 5y ago
no offense but have you considered the simpler explanation, that conservative politics on a platform of short-form video for 20-30 year olds isn't going to be very popular

paulv 5y ago

I know a significant number of progressive users that frequently get their videos taken down or have some videos "shadowbanned" where the engagement metrics are dramatically different than even their non-popular videos.

throwawaysea 5y ago
One basic complaint I have about TikTok is their lack of transparency with bans. TikTok recently banned Amala Ekpunobi (https://thefederalist.com/2021/04/26/tiktok-blacklists-gen-z-prageru-ambassador-amala-ekpunobi/ https://thefederalist.com/2021/04/26/tiktok-blacklists-gen-z...) and no reason was given. The same thing happened to PragerU’s account not long ago. I know PragerU has a bad reputation and is hated by the political left, but the majority of their videos are reasonable and fully sourced - I just don’t think they deserve that kind of ban. Ultimately I don’t like massive tech platforms controlling what information can and can’t reach the rest of society. At their scale, they have the power to propagandize by suppressing and amplifying select information, and they can’t be trusted with it.

user982 5y ago

Holy shit! You were censored for wanting lower taxes?

1270018080 5y ago

Doesn't it get tiring constructing some imaginary victimization conspiracy? If they're getting banned for "conservative politics," they're probably not talking about small government or lower taxes. We all know what they're talking about.

throwawaysea 5y ago
> Doesn't it get tiring constructing some imaginary victimization conspiracy? Why are you dismissing what I have observed as a “victimization conspiracy”? > We all know what they're talking about. What am I talking about? — This is Hacker News, so please don’t bring this type of confrontational dialog to the conversation. If you have something substantial to add, go ahead. But opening your comment with an ad hominem attack against me is not helpful.

Barrin92 5y ago

no offense but have you considered the simpler explanation, that conservative politics on a platform of short-form video for 20-30 year olds isn't going to be very popular