Am I being censored? Some US TikTok users say app feels different after ban lifted

NEW YORK, Jan 25 (Reuters) - U.S. TikTok users who once saw the app as a haven for free speech say they see signs of censorship after the platform, owned by China's ByteDance, was revived by an executive order from President Donald Trump.

TikTok users are noting a difference in the short-video app following its revival after going dark on Saturday under a new law—enacted over national security concerns during the Biden administration with bipartisan support—that requires it to be sold to a U.S. buyer. Trump has vowed to find a solution to the ban, with several bidders in the mix, including people with close relationships to the new Republican president.

Users have reported noticing a decrease in the number of livestreams available on the platform. Additionally, they are observing that certain activities are being removed or flagged more frequently for violating community guidelines. This includes behavior that was previously allowed without issue.

In response to these concerns, TikTok issued a statement to Reuters, clarifying that there have been no changes to their policies or algorithms over the weekend. The company explained that they are diligently working to bring their U.S. operations back to normal. During this process, they anticipate some temporary instability, which may affect various TikTok features or users' ability to access the app. TikTok reassured users that they are committed to resolving these issues as quickly as possible.

Some users have noticed more content moderation, like fewer search results and warnings about misinformation, along with prompts to verify sources.

Some users mentioned that TikTok was removing comments with phrases like "Free Palestine" and "Free Luigi," referring to Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing a UnitedHealth executive, which were previously allowed.

TikTok stated that it doesn't permit content promoting violent or hateful individuals on its platform.

On Monday, Trump signed an executive order aimed at restoring freedom of speech and ending censorship, specifically targeting social media platforms.

Pat Loller, a content creator, comedian, and veteran, shared that a satirical video he made about Elon Musk's hand gesture at an inauguration event, which some interpreted as a Nazi salute, was initially flagged as misinformation. As a result, the video's reach was limited, even though it received over a million views.