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, crowsby, and others for putting in the comments)

  • stevedidWHATEnglish
    9•10 months ago

    “Panties in a bunch” = misogynistic? Yes. “…” = Transphobia? Come on.

    You’re stretching here for a win a la victimizing yourself. If you are actually trans and this was a mistake (I hope you realize to be one) I really hope you take this to heart. Y’all need as much support as you can get and making blatantly false allegations like this against people is just gonna hurt your cause.

    Unless you’re a troll and this is what you want and tan out of brain juice so you flipped the ol switxh and goo goo ga ga’d your way out of being responsible for your life.

    • cynetri (he/any)English
      -5•10 months ago

      I jumped to transphobia because of my personal experience with gender. Yes, misogyny is a better word. That’s not a mark on trans people though, I’m not the one attacking people’s identities here.

      • stevedidWHATEnglish
        5•10 months ago

        Christ you really just can’t take this one on the cheek huh.

        Part of being an adult (purposefully not using the term being a man here as a note) is recognizing that sometimes we don’t speak clearly enough and sometimes we misunderstand each other.

        I can sympathize with your prior experience causing bias but maturity is recognizing your biases every day, ahead of time, and fight against it. It’s absolutely not a mark on trans people but it sure does fuel the other side which is not what we want.