Users on TikTok searching for “WGA” are met with a screen claiming that the phrase “may be associated with behavior or content that violates our guidelines.” No videos return. Users are also unable to search for the “WGA” hashtag.
TikTok has also blocked the search term “WGA strike.”
Additionally, it appears that TikTok is blocking results from any simple search that includes “WGA” in the search term. Including “WGA” in addition to another word — like “WGA support” or “WGA strong” — blocks results.
Update (9/11/23): A TikTok spokesperson told Media Matters that “WGA has been inadvertently blocked as part of the platforms’ protections against QAnon conspiracy theories.” (WWG1WGA is a common QAnon phrase.) The spokesperson added that searches for “Writers Guild of America” and “Writers Guild of America Strike” were not impacted. Searches for “WGA” and related terms now appear to function normally.
(Thanks mike591, SCB, and others for putting in the comments)
I can only speculate. My own observations tell me it’s much easier for 1000 of the richest oligarchs to conspire together and show class solidarity than 200 million working class individuals. It’s especially effective when those oligarchs control the media that feeds the masses.
Microsoft, Google, Apple, and many large Silicon Valley firms were all caught colluding to keep wages suppressed by agreeing to not poach talent from each other. Why couldn’t other oligarchs collude during industry meetings.
I guess, but isn’t TikTok competition for the studio system? People watching TikTok videos mean they aren’t watching paid streaming media or TV.