TikTok restricted the ability for users to search for the phrase “White Lives Matter,” a phrase criticized as tied to white nationalists and recently popularized by rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West.
The restrictions on the phrase, often used as a response to the Black Lives Matter movement, come days after Ye wore a shirt displaying “White Lives Matter” at a fashion show on Oct. 3.
“The phrase may be associated with hateful behavior,” TikTok said in a display under the search. “TikTok is committed to keeping our community safe and working to prevent the spread of hate.”
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While “White Lives Matter” and “#whitelivesmatter” did not bring up any results on the platform, other variations, including the acronym for the phrase, were still successful in finding relevant content. As of Thursday morning, the majority of posts on TikTok were slamming Ye for wearing the outfit as well as appearing on Tucker Carlson to speak on the subject.
TikTok attracted controversy in July 2021 when its algorithm flagged posts mentioning “Black Lives Matter” as inappropriate.
Initially created as a response to “Black Lives Matter” in 2015, the line “White Lives Matter” has gained prominence among white nationalists and Neo-Nazis, according to the Anti-Defamation League. The phrase earned attention after West wore the shirt alongside conservative commentator Candace Owens at Fashion Week in Paris.
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TikTok did not respond to requests for comment from the Washington Examiner.
