TikTok staffers told not to flag Amazon accounts for questionable content
Christopher Hutton
Video Embed
TikTok employees were reportedly told not to remove questionable posts made by Amazon due to its advertisement investments in the platform.
The China-owned social platform told content moderators not to touch over 60 Amazon-operated TikTok accounts due to its relationship with the online retail giant, according to internal messages obtained by the Guardian. A team leader sent a message through a chat group designed to disseminate policy updates clarifying the importance of Amazon as the platform’s highest-paying advertiser. It also emphasized protecting that relationship.
“The message is saying do not moderate Amazon accounts, and then there is a list of Amazon accounts,” a staffer told the Guardian.
The chat group where this message was sent included dozens of moderators, team leaders, and site managers. It does not appear the message was revoked.
HOW AMERICAN RESCUED BY NONPROFIT GROUP LED TO UNPRECEDENTED WAR CRIMES CHARGES
The message appears to have been sent after TikTok moderators made a “wrong decision” about Amazon’s platforms. The listed accounts included Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Music, Twitch, and the audiobook service Audible.
“These allegations about TikTok’s policies are wrong or based on misunderstandings, while the Guardian has not given us enough information about their other claims to investigate,” a TikTok spokesperson said. “Our community guidelines apply equally to all content on TikTok.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
It’s unclear how much Amazon spends on TikTok’s ads, although the team leaders told moderators that they are one of the biggest spenders on the platform. The Big Tech retailer spent more than $1.4 billion on digital advertising in the U.S. in 2022, according to the app data firm Sensor Tower.
TikTok’s community guidelines do not state whether or not companies or individuals in a financial partnership with the platform are to be exempted. However, it affirms that all advertisers must comply with its terms of service and policies.