Social-Media
TikTok will block hashtags on QAnon but will not delete relevant videos
TikTok has removed many hashtags related to the QAnon conspiracy theory, but will not delete the videos from its website using the hashtags, the BBC said. The video sharing platform has removed the words "QAnon," "QAnonTruth" and the related word "Out of Darkness," used by participants in QAnon.
But as the BBC reports, even though the hashtags are no longer available, the QAnon videos themselves may still appear in TikTok's For You suggestions or in user feeds.
TikTok did not respond to a request for comment immediately Saturday.
Many sites have taken a harsher position against QAnon material; Twitter revealed earlier this week that it was banning 7,000 accounts, blocking connections linked to QAnon and imposing limits on 150,000 more accounts. Twitter is no longer supporting or mentioning the accounts as trending topics. Facebook suspended several groups and pages promoting QAnon back in April, saying they were engaging in "coordinated inauthentic behaviour. Roku yanked a QAnon channel from its website, and Reddit blocked QAnon forum r / GreatAwakening for breaching its rules against inciting abuse, harassment and the distribution of personal details.
QAnon is a conspiracy theory that argues that President Donald Trump secretly wants to arrest high-profile Democratic politicians and celebrities for pedophilia or cannibalism among other items. Around a dozen Republican candidates for office expressed support for QAnon, and some of its supporters were charged with acts of abuse.
