TikTok, an addictive social-media platform that gained popularity during the pandemic, now faces multiple allegations regarding its moderation and censorship policies. In an effort to provide a sense of safety for the general public, TikTok Community guidelines state, “Our approach to content moderation is built on four pillars: 1) Remove violative content from the platform that breaks our rules. 2) Age-restrict mature content so it is only viewed by adults (18 years and older). 3) Maintain For You feed (FYF) eligibility standards to help ensure any content that may be promoted by our recommendation system is appropriate for a broad audience. 4) Empower our community with information, tools, and resources.” Although TikTok’s Policies are not equivalent to McCarthyism, some aspects can threaten freedom of speech and privacy.
McCarthyism, more commonly known as the Red Scare, was a campaign run by Senator Joseph McCarthy from 1950 to 1954 to fuel the fear of communism in the United States. This campaign was caused by the Soviet Union’s use of atomic weapons and the spread of communism in Eastern Europe during World War I. Congressional committees and Senate committees, led by McCarthy, held investigations into alleged communist groups. Those accused were blacklisted and faced severe humiliation as their reputation was tarnished. McCarthyism created an atmosphere of fear that led to many citizens conforming to mainstream political beliefs and ideologies, creating a conscious or subconscious bias.
One concern regarding TikTok policies is the company’s method of moderation, through bias and selective enforcement. The platform aims to remove harmful content, as stated in their community guidelines, but how these policies are implemented can lead to suppression of speech. A couple years back accusations of TikTok removing content made by “ugly” people rather than “pretty” people is evident of this issue.
However, more frighteningly, Chinese platform ownership raises concerns about data handling, privacy, and security. Fears rise at the thought of user data shared with authoritarian governments, and political parties perhaps targeting individuals or groups based on their beliefs. This allegation, although from a different time period than the Red Scare, plays into the same fear of being watched.
Concerns regarding TikTok policies exist but do not directly equate to McCarthyism. Considering the campaign was run to repress communist and other political views, while TikTok issues mainly revolve around moderation and privacy, it would not be ideal to compare both in such a manner.
