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“My face has broke the internet.”
That’s what 16-year-old beauty pageant winner Eva Grant told reportedly her mother when TikTok banned her account which posted pictures of her struggle with cystic acne along with encouraging messages for those suffering from similar conditions, according to BBC Look North (North East and Cumbria).
Grant explained to BBC Radio York what happened. “It didn’t fit them because of my skin, because it was gruesome content,” she alleged.
It appears that the platform censored Grant’s account under its “Violent and graphic content” section of its Community Guidelines which prohibits “content that is gratuitously shocking, graphic, sadistic, or gruesome” including “gore in which an open wound or injury is the core focus.”
The broadcast reported that TikTok removed her account three weeks after she created it in October and restored it just this week. But Grant didn’t allow TikTok to end her encouraging content focused on reminding people of their inner beauty. “At first I was like ‘Oh, why has this been taken down when I am trying to do good in the world,’” She told BBC Look North. “And then after about an hour or two I was like ‘No, I’m going to fight this and I am going to remake this account I’m going to make it even better. I’m going to fight for what I believe in.’”
When MRC Free speech America reached out to the platform, TikTok admitted fault. “At TikTok we are driven to provide a platform for creative authentic self-expression. We are open about the fact that we don’t get every moderation decision right and have reinstated Eva’s account,” said a TikTok spokesperson. We hope Eva continues to use TikTok to offer encouragement and advice to others, and to share her story.”
On paper, the platform has a strict policy against bullying but this isn’t the first time TikTok was caught censoring users based on their appearance.
The Intercept reported on internal TikTok documents that reveal the platform allegedly told its moderators to suppress videos from users with “ugly facial looks,” “obvious facial scars,” “too many wrinkles,” “abnormal body shape,” “eye disorders,” and many other traits deemed “less attractive” by TikTok. “The video will be much less attractive, not worthing to be recommended to new users,” the document reads.
Conservatives are under attack. Contact your representatives and demand that Big Tech be held to account to mirror the First Amendment while providing transparency, clarity on so-called hate speech and equal footing for conservatives. If you have been censored, contact us using CensorTrack’s contact form, and help us hold Big Tech accountable.
