TikTok users in the U.S. voice concerns over alleged censorship

U.S. TikTok users are raising concerns about censorship on the platform, once considered a bastion for free speech. This follows its recent revival under new conditions mandated by U.S. law, requiring its sale to an American buyer over national security concerns.

The changes come after an executive order from President Donald Trump, who has pledged to restore freedom of speech on social media platforms. TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, says its policies remain unchanged but admits to potential service instability during the transition.

Users, however, report an increase in content moderation. Livestreams are fewer, search results appear limited, and posts are flagged for behaviours previously allowed. TikTok has also been accused of removing phrases like “Free Palestine” and other politically charged terms. The company denies allowing content that promotes violence or hate.

Comedian Pat Loller noted unusual restrictions after a satirical video about Elon Musk was flagged. “It says ‘sharing is limited to one chat at a time.’ I’ve never seen this before,” said Loller, who has over 1.3 million followers.

Other creators like Lisa Cline and Danisha Carter faced posting issues and account suspensions. Carter’s account was banned after criticising tech executives and their political influence. Ada Ortiz, another user, received warnings after leaving non-political comments, leading her to delete videos supportive of Vice President Kamala Harris.

Critics fear the increased moderation targets users based on identity or political stance. For many, TikTok’s future as a platform for free expression remains uncertain.