TikTok is Deleting Crypto and Blockchain Publications - Why is This Happening?

Recently, two relatively "young" trends have seen an incredible rise in popularity - cryptocurrencies and social media. Among the most used social networks, TikTok currently has the app with the highest number of downloads in the world. That’s why many crypto influencers started shilling their own coins, which led thousands of people to buy USDT in order to get the so-called “shitcoins”.

While the success of cryptocurrency is mainly due to its decentralized properties, TikTok is a private company headquartered in China - a country widely known for having a stern, rock-solid centralized government that tends to control free speech.

Recently, there was a huge controversy over how TikTok would be deleting content related to all cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. However, would it be just a conspiracy theory or is TikTok actually banning crypto-related content from their platform?

In this article, you will understand why TikTok is deleting crypto and blockchain publications

Why Was TikTok So Successful So Fast?

Several factors made TikTok a hit among social media users, especially younger ones between 18 and 24 years of age. 

This social network focuses on fast content has several elements that other competitors do not offer, such as tools to customize content and the possibility for users to monetize their own content.

Also, the app's use of artificial intelligence and algorithms contributes to making users much more comfortable to use more and interact on the platform for much longer.

Each time a TikTok user interacts and likes a specific type of content, they keep receiving more and more similar content, which creates an environment where each user is impacted by the content received on their mobile screen.

Additionally, TikTok focuses a lot on the fast content virals, usually boosting videos with a comic twist or a more relaxed dynamic.

TikTok is Deleting Crypto-related Content - What's Actually Going On?

Since July, TikTok has started to update its app policy, completely banning the promotion of financial products or services, which theoretically would include cryptocurrencies and other contents of the crypto industry.

Initially, the idea would be to prevent the use of the social network to spread scams or that sponsored creators, even without knowing it, ended up leading users to fraud.

However, the new TikTok policy would be harming many influencers who use the social network in an educational way to talk about cryptocurrencies and other related issues.

A lot of TikTok users don't know how to sell or buy USDT, Bitcoin, Ethereum, so these influencers would actually be providing a positive service to users interested in this type of content.

Theoretically, none of the crypto influencers would be breaking the new guidelines of the platform, but even so, they receive bans, have their content constantly deleted, and can even be expelled from the social network.

Cryptocurrency-related Terms Trigger TikTok Algorithm Causing Content Removal

Over the past few weeks, several users claim they cannot use specific terms in their TikTok videos, such as "Binance" or "decentralized finance" (DeFi). Specifically mentioning some cryptocurrencies also causes censorship, such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), or Dogecoin (DOGE).

Apparently, all these terms activate the illicit content detection algorithm on the platform. According to several influencers in the cryptocurrency industry, the network's guidelines determine that content will be removed, "including video, audio, live stream, images, comments and text" violating the app's rules.

Furthermore, the app allegedly uses, in its own words, a "combination of technology and human moderation" to apply its policies impartially and correctly.

If a video is removed, the user is usually notified that the post violates a policy or is related to "illegal activities and regulated goods". But the message doesn't provide further details, as some of the banned content creators affirm. 

If two videos are removed, they will be banned from posting content for at least 24 hours. Bans can last from a day to a week, they said.

Theoretically, it is possible to appeal to any ban or exclusion that the creator believes is wrong. But when creators contact TikTok about a withdrawn video, for example, many say they were ignored or just received an automated response.

When a user is censored or has its content deleted, there is no phone number to call and no representative to email. In some cases, the appeal results in the deleted post being restored.

It is still unclear what TikTok considers "cryptocurrency promotion" and what may or may not mark a given video as "illegal activity". Finally, they ask for a more direct channel to be opened with the company to address the issue, answering questions, and explaining bans and instant content removals.

Conclusion 

Ultimately, TikTok is a private company, so they are free to enforce their own content policy - even though it may be harmful for some users. However, the issue dwells in banning content that is not actually prohibited nor censored in the platform, either by algorithmic error or on purpose.

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