TikTok app logo is seen in this illustration taken, Aug. 22, 2022. Photo: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic
Jewish social media influencers wrote in a new open letter to TikTok that it is “not doing enough” to combat antisemitism and online hatred on the video platform, saying bluntly: “Your platform is not safe for Jewish users.”
In the letter, more than 40 content creators and public figures claimed they have been “bombarded with abhorrent inhumanity” — such as death threats and harassing comments — solely for being Jewish. “This hate and vitriol is not rare, spontaneous, or unexpected,” they added. “Sadly, rampant antisemitism is a common problem that TikTok has failed to address for far too long.”
The co-signers said the daily hatred that Jewish content creators face has been “relentless” and “compounded to unimaginable degrees” since Hamas’ onslaught in Israel on Oct. 7, when the Palestinian terrorist group killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapped more than 200 others. It was the deadliest single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.
“The inaction in the face of Jew-hatred that we are experiencing today is also how the Holocaust started,” wrote the social media influencers and public figures, who included comedian Amy Schumer, designers Isaac Mizrahi and Danielle Bernstein, and chef and cookbook authors Jake Cohen and Eitan Bernath.
“Yes, it’s a dramatic historical analogy,” they added, “but it’s never been more necessary to point out. And like last time, there are many other marginalized groups similarly impacted. TikTok’s failure to protect its most vulnerable communities hurts all vulnerable communities.”
The content creators added that their concerns are not merely about “digital harassment.” They fear for their physical safety and the “real world implications” of the online hatred they face.
“As Jews, we are scared, distraught, and at a breaking point,” the letter read. “Anger fueled by TikTok has led directly to antisemitic harassment, assault, and vandalism. We are scared to leave our homes. We feel compelled to hire armed security. We are frightened to post for fear of receiving more suffocating digital hate. We fear that only an unfathomable tragedy befalling a Jewish TikTok creator will lead to change. Is that what you are waiting for?”
The letter called on TikTok to amp up and fix its safety features and content moderation, which “has been notoriously plagued by inaction, inconsistency, and bias.” They also urged TikTok to take more action against misinformation being spread on its platform about the Israel-Hamas war and recommended to create a community manager who looks out for the safety and needs of the Jewish community on TikTok.
In response, TikTok said a statement to USA Today that it opposes antisemitism and is dedicated to combating it. “We’ve taken important steps to protect our community and prevent the spread of hate, and we appreciate ongoing, honest dialogue and feedback as we continually work to strengthen these protections,” the company said.
Yael Eisenstat, director of the Anti-Defamation League’s Center for Tech and Society, said in a recent statement that TikTok “has been very receptive to our concerns and responsive when we flag violating content, and we are continuing to work closely with their leadership team to address these issues.”
Meanwhile, several members of Congress have called to ban TikTok in the US, arguing the Chinese-owned app could allow the Chinese government to harvest the data of Americans. They have also said the platform is pushing anti-Israel content amid the ongoing war between the Jewish state and Hamas.
