Libs of TikTok — an account known for reposting videos of radical leftist activists on social media — was suspended from Instagram on Thursday.
Because the account or “activity on it” did not follow Instagram’s community guidelines, Libs of TikTok was suspended from Instagram, according to a screenshot of the suspension notice. Libs of TikTok has 30 days to “disagree with the decision” — or else the account “will be permanently disabled.”
BREAKING: @instagram just suspended our account. pic.twitter.com/vnUi6rOJYB
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 27, 2022
Libs of TikTok’s page on Instagram currently appears to be unavailable.
This is not the first time Libs of TikTok has faced social media censorship. Last month, the page was suspended from Twitter for 12 hours after allegedly violating rules against “hateful conduct.”
“We have determined that this account violated the Twitter rules, specifically for violating our rules against hateful conduct,” the ban notice, shared by Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon on behalf of Libs of TikTok, explained. “You many not promote violence against, threaten, or harass other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or serious disease.”
The last tweet posted by the account before the suspension showed a woman complaining about parents who do not want teachers instructing children on sexual orientation and gender identity. Libs of TikTok captioned the post, “This is what the left really thinks. Listen when they tell you. They want to take your kids to groom and indoctrinate them behind your back.”
Also last month, Washington Post reporter Taylor Lorenz claimed that Libs of TikTok has a “deep and far-reaching” impact on discourse and plays a role in “shaping right-wing media, impacting anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and influencing millions by posting viral videos aimed at inciting outrage among the right.” In the process of her reporting, Lorenz was accused of “doxxing” the woman who anonymously runs Libs of TikTok.
The woman, whom The Daily Wire is not naming out of respect for her privacy, said she was inundated with death threats from leftists, but later posted on Twitter that she was “holed up in a safe location.” Lorenz was also harshly criticized for inadvertently directing a number of threats to another woman with the same name as the Libs of TikTok owner and reportedly visiting the homes of the woman’s family members.
TikTok — owned by Beijing-based technology company ByteDance — was the most visited website in 2021, driving more internet traffic than Google. TikTok is particularly popular among children and teenagers, who constitute the plurality of the site’s user base; among American youth, TikTok is now more popular than Instagram and Snapchat.
However, a report from the Daily Mail indicates that content posted by transgender influencers has been seen by millions of young viewers. Videos with the hashtag “Trans” have been watched more than 26 billion times as of December. The outlet also noted that TikTok is locking arms with Stonewall — an LGBTQ organization in the United States — to promote the material.
“We are honoured that the LGBTQ+ community has embraced TikTok from our very early days, as a platform for self-expression, education, community-building and joy,” a spokesman for TikTok told the Daily Mail. A spokesman for Stonewall added: “Our content allows young LGBTQ+ people to know that they are not alone in their experiences.”