Episode 52 - TikTok is Transphobic Rule 63

How does TikTok’s algorithm discriminate against trans people? What does this form of content suppression mean for the trans community, and how can we put up a fight against it? To find out, Anna talks to five of the app’s greatest trans creators. 
Find all of our guests’ information below! 
Azrael’s contact info: 
~TikTok: @bigbattyxena
~Instagram: @bigbattyxena 
~Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Azraelkaos 
~Transition surgery fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-azrielle-fund-her-transition 
Lauren’s contact info: 
~TikTok: @laurengsundstrom 
~Instagram: @laurengsundstrom 
Lucy’s contact info: 
~TikTok: @lucy.thinks.aloud 
~Instagram: @lucy.thinks.aloud 
~Linktree: https://linktr.ee/lucy.thinks.aloud 
Marla’s contact info: 
~TikTok: @thefloorismarlava 
~Instagram: @thefloorismarlava 
~Linktree: https://linktr.ee/TheFloorIsMarlava 
~Marla’s gender-affirming care fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/marlas-hair-rasing-fund-electrolysis-laser 
Maybe’s contact info: 
~TikTok: @believeinmaybe 
~Instagram: @believeinmaybe 
~Linktree: https://linktr.ee/believeinmaybe 
References 
Time, Black TikTok Creators Say Their Content is Being Suppressed https://time.com/5863350/tiktok-black-creators/ 
MIT Tech Reivew, How aspiring influencers are forced to fight the algorithm https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/07/14/1055906/tiktok-influencers-moderation-bias/ 
BBC News, TikTok admits restricting some LGBT hashtags https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-54102575 
Wiki, Censorship on TikTok https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_on_TikTok 
LA Blade, TikTok’s algorithm leads users from transphobic to far-right rabbit holes https://www.losangelesblade.com/2021/10/11/tiktoks-algorithm-leads-users-from-transphobic-to-far-right-rabbit-holes/ 
Popsugar, Why TikTok Shadow Bans Are a Concern For Creators https://www.yahoo.com/now/think-youve-shadow-banned-tiktok-210615425.html 
MacKinnon, K. et al, Examining TikTok’s Potential for Community-Engaged Digital Knowledge Mobilization With Equity-Seeking Groups https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8704107/ 
Lily Alexandre, Why Is Queer Discourse so Toxic? https://youtu.be/oH-avZlCMpk 
Resources for Creators of Color: http://takecreativecontrol.org/ 
Dr. Casey Fiesler’s Tech Ethics & Policy Class: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tWdqYqYBHARbZXFQX4cybe88S-0twqvUu1xLhYnLgU4/edit 
Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/ai-bill-of-rights/ 
#PrideOut disaster https://www.tiktok.com/tag/prideout 
Michael Mignano, The End of Social Media and the Rise of Recommendation Media https://mignano.medium.com/the-end-of-social-media-a88ffed21f86 
Yahoo Life, For the first time, Netflix name-checked TikTok as a major competitor https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/first-time-netflix-name-checked-203316355.html 
Mike Rugnetta, Nobody Shares Anymore https://youtu.be/ZDuyyH60FOg 
CJ the X, Bo Burnham vs. Jeff Bezos https://youtu.be/UvYcunuF3Eo 
Dainty Funk, How to be Human Online https://youtu.be/vC6uYyUfMH4