Episode 52 - TikTok is Transphobic

How does TikTok’s algorithm discriminate against trans people? What does this form of content suppression mean for the trans community, and how can we put up a fight against it? To find out, Anna talks to five of the app’s greatest trans creators. 

Find all of our guests’ information below! 

Azrael’s contact info: 

~TikTok: @bigbattyxena

~Instagram: @bigbattyxena 

~Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Azraelkaos 

~Transition surgery fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-azrielle-fund-her-transition 

Lauren’s contact info: 

~TikTok: @laurengsundstrom 

~Instagram: @laurengsundstrom 

Lucy’s contact info: 

~TikTok: @lucy.thinks.aloud 

~Instagram: @lucy.thinks.aloud 

~Linktree: https://linktr.ee/lucy.thinks.aloud 

Marla’s contact info: 

~TikTok: @thefloorismarlava 

~Instagram: @thefloorismarlava 

~Linktree: https://linktr.ee/TheFloorIsMarlava 

~Marla’s gender-affirming care fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/marlas-hair-rasing-fund-electrolysis-laser 

Maybe’s contact info: 

~TikTok: @believeinmaybe 

~Instagram: @believeinmaybe 

~Linktree: https://linktr.ee/believeinmaybe 

References 

• Time, Black TikTok Creators Say Their Content is Being Suppressed https://time.com/5863350/tiktok-black-creators/ 

• MIT Tech Reivew, How aspiring influencers are forced to fight the algorithm https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/07/14/1055906/tiktok-influencers-moderation-bias/ 

• BBC News, TikTok admits restricting some LGBT hashtags https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-54102575 

• Wiki, Censorship on TikTok https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_on_TikTok 

• LA Blade, TikTok’s algorithm leads users from transphobic to far-right rabbit holes https://www.losangelesblade.com/2021/10/11/tiktoks-algorithm-leads-users-from-transphobic-to-far-right-rabbit-holes/ 

• Popsugar, Why TikTok Shadow Bans Are a Concern For Creators https://www.yahoo.com/now/think-youve-shadow-banned-tiktok-210615425.html 

• MacKinnon, K. et al, Examining TikTok’s Potential for Community-Engaged Digital Knowledge Mobilization With Equity-Seeking Groups https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8704107/ 

• Lily Alexandre, Why Is Queer Discourse so Toxic? https://youtu.be/oH-avZlCMpk 

• Resources for Creators of Color: http://takecreativecontrol.org/ 

• Dr. Casey Fiesler’s Tech Ethics & Policy Class: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tWdqYqYBHARbZXFQX4cybe88S-0twqvUu1xLhYnLgU4/edit 

• Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/ai-bill-of-rights/ 

• #PrideOut disaster https://www.tiktok.com/tag/prideout 

• Michael Mignano, The End of Social Media and the Rise of Recommendation Media https://mignano.medium.com/the-end-of-social-media-a88ffed21f86 

• Yahoo Life, For the first time, Netflix name-checked TikTok as a major competitor https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/first-time-netflix-name-checked-203316355.html 

• Mike Rugnetta, Nobody Shares Anymore https://youtu.be/ZDuyyH60FOg 

• CJ the X, Bo Burnham vs. Jeff Bezos https://youtu.be/UvYcunuF3Eo 

• Dainty Funk, How to be Human Online https://youtu.be/vC6uYyUfMH4