TikTok guidelines said not to promote posts by ‘ugly’ and poor users

[BUtterfield 8 41,371]

TikTok directed its moderators to prevent people with “ugly facial looks” or who shot videos in “slums” or “dilapidated housing” from having their posts promoted to its widely viewed “For You” section, according to The Intercept. A TikTok spokesperson confirmed to The Intercept that the policies had once been in place but said the guidelines were “an early blunt attempt at preventing bullying” that are no longer used.

Portions of these discriminatory guidelines have leaked in the past, revealing that TikTok intentionally prevented posts from LGBTQ users and users with disabilities from surfacing in this section. The Intercept has more detail from the leaked documents, showing that they ban people who have an “abnormal body shape” such as a “beer belly” or “ugly facial looks” such as “too many wrinkles.”

The guidelines also ban videos from people who appear to be poor. Cracked walls or old decorations are enough to have a video suppressed, according to the leaked guidelines.

While TikTok says the goal was to prevent bullying (and past leaks have referenced bullying as a policy rational), the notes accompanying these restrictions explain that TikTok viewed these traits as less likely to draw in new users. “If the character’s appearance or the shooting environment is not good, the video will be much less attractive, not worthing to be recommended to new users,” reads the guide, which The Intercept says was translated by TikTok from Chinese to English for use globally.

https://www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2020/3/16/21181496/tiktok-ugly-poor-users-no-promotion-guidelines-leak?utm_campaign=theverge&utm_content=chorus&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&__twitter_impression=true

[not Chromatica 5,393]

They're queerphobic as well. Wbk.

[Daylight Jokers 14,958]

I'm not surprised. TokTik is toxic af.

[Killa 17,456]

absolutely disgusting wew

[IAmNotHere1997 25,824]

That's partially good because it prevents bullying. The comments section of the videos of such kind are alarmingly awful and disrespectful.

[dynamite 58,487]

This is ****ing horrible

[misunderstood 8,736]

This just sounds like regular social media **** sadly 

[JazzGa 14,620]

U mean the "lip-syncing viral influencer machine" is vain and shallow? Wow i would never suspect that

[misunderstood 8,736]

This is just gonna be another thing people get outraged about for a week or less and then continue either using the app/never using tiktok as they were before

[shame 25,360]

1 minute ago, gabrielflorin01 said:

That's partially good because it prevents bullying. The comments section of the videos of such kind are alarmingly awful and disrespectful.

Then TikTok should come up with a way to restrict this disrespectful behaviour in users rather than to prevent various content creators from contributing to the platform.

[FfFfFfFF 55,680]

There goes my Tik Tok career.

[JazzGa 14,620]

Just now, shame said:

Then TikTok should come up with a way to restrict this disrespectful behaviour in users rather than to prevent various content creators from contributing to the platform.

They can still contribute but they don't get featured in the "Recommended For You" section, which is where people find their viral success. Basically, the mods and algorithms that decide what shows up in "For You" get to decide who is successful on TikTok and who isn't.  

[StarstruckIllusion 52,473]

We’re not surprised tbh. It’s all rich attractive people on there. Looks like Gen Z/Gen Aloha won’t grow up any less Shallow.mp3 😳😳

[shame 25,360]

Just now, the Devil of Pop said:

They can still contribute but they don't get featured in the "Recommended For You" section, which is where people find their viral success. Basically, the mods and algorithms that decide what shows up in "For You" get to decide who is successful on TikTok and who isn't.  

disgusting. total lack of democracy. sounds just like china's political system

[Diseased 23]

I am poor and ugly and this really hurts me. But it's just the way it is