If you are wondering why your TikTok video never got famous, we have the answer. It’s because you’re UGLY or may be POOR or DISABLED! 

Before you hunt down this statement and wish curse upon your family, we would like you to know that these are the words of your favourite application. And just by the way, if you think ugly only defines your facial beauty, then you need to recheck your dictionary- because TikTok says if you are ugly, then you are also POOR.

Source: CNet

The latest report by The Intercept reveals that TikTok instructed the moderators not to promote videos that had people with “ugly facial looks” or content that features “slums” and “dilapidated housing”. So these videos never made it to the recommended “For You” section on the application. Who says the world is not progressing to become better every day? At least, they were honest in their discrimination.

Source: The Intercept

Also, if you feel that TikTok only hates poor and ugly people, then there is another surprise. They also hate other marginalized groups, especially LGBTQ+. Leaked guidelines confirm that the application put a filter on posts from people with disabilities and individuals who discuss their sexualities and gender online.

So in clear words of TikTok, we don’t want “abnormal body shapes” like “beer belly” or “ugly facial looks” like “too many wrinkles”. We have to appreciate the guidelines for being racist, classist, ageist and homophobe collectively. Not everyone can manage to piss off so many groups at the same time.

Source: Heavy.com

So next time you’re making a video, you need to ensure that not only is your face perfect by euro-centric standards but the walls behind you also look posh.

Now obviously, TikTok has come up with a response, and they say that the guidelines were devised to minimize bullying on the app. So wait-nobody can be prejudiced and bigoted on the app because TikTok itself has surpassed all the limitations of discrimination? That, my friends, is what we call a brilliant strategy! 

The words from the leaked guide state that “If the character’s appearance or the shooting environment is not good, the video will be much less attractive, not worthing to be recommended to new users.” This specific part has been translated from Chinese as that’s where the app originated from. 

Source: Twitter

A spokesperson from the US said that these restrictions “were not for the US market”.

Well, let’s believe them for a second. But what about the report released by The Guardian last year that showed how TikTok socially removed content when it was “controversial”. And by controversial, they mean criticism of any “political or religious leader”.  

Protests were not allowed to live stream on the app. When this was revealed, the spokesperson for ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok said that they had removed these rules since May 2019.

TikTok has now said that they would not allow any China-based moderators to put restrictions on international content. So the good news for all marginalized groups is that since the rules are revised, they can be publicly bullied by the users and not the app. What a silver lining!