• UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
NewsExplored
  • UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • LinkedIn

  • Tumblr

  • RSS

Tech

QAnon: TikTok blocks QAnon conspiracy theory hashtags

QAnon: TikTok blocks QAnon conspiracy theory hashtags
Newsexplored
24th July 2020
ShareTweet
SubscribeRedditGoogleWhatsappStumbleuponPinterestDiggLinkedinTumblrTelegram
Views:
2
QAnon supporter holds up poster at Trump rallyImage copyright Getty Images
Image caption QAnon conspiracy theories spread on social media and offline

TikTok has blocked a number of hashtags related to the QAnon conspiracy theory from appearing in search results, amid concern about misinformation, the BBC has learned.

It comes days after Twitter banned thousands of QAnon-related accounts.

QAnon is a wide-ranging, unfounded conspiracy theory whose followers support US President Donald Trump.

They believe the president is battling a clandestine “deep state” network of political, business and media elites.

TikTok said it moved to restrict “QAnonTruth” searches after a question from the BBC’s anti-disinformation unit, which noticed a spike in conspiracy videos using the tag. The company expressed concern that such misinformation could harm users and the general public.

“QAnon” and related hashtags, such as “Out of Shadows”, ”Fall Cabal” and “QAnonTruth”, will no longer return search results on TikTok - although videos using the same tags will remain on the platform.

Videos using the “QAnon” hashtag, in particular, have millions of cumulative views and can still be found if a user’s algorithm directs them to the associated content.

Many videos promote unfounded conspiracy theories. Recently, some of them endorsed baseless claims linking furniture firm Wayfair to child trafficking.

Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption TikTok has become a popular platform with QAnon conspiracy theorists

TikTok’s intervention comes after Twitter announced measures earlier this week also aimed at cracking down on the QAnon conspiracy theorists, including banning thousands of accounts.

It said the suspensions will be applied to accounts that are “engaged in violations of our multi-account policy, co-ordinating abuse around individual victims, or are attempting to evade a previous suspension”.

Twitter also said it would stop recommending content linked to QAnon and block URLs associated with it from being shared on the platform, in an attempt to prevent “offline harm”.

data-ad-format="auto">

Celebrities, including model Chrissy Teigen, have been victims of co-ordinated abuse from QAnon conspiracy theorists in recent weeks.

Sources close to Facebook say the social media site is looking to take similar action over supporters of the conspiracy theory. QAnon groups on the site have hundreds of thousands of members accumulatively.

What is QAnon?

QAnon began in October 2017 on the anonymous message board 4chan. A user claimed to have top security clearance within the US government and signed off their posts as “Q” - hence the name QAnon. Q communicates in cryptic posts and claims to be directly involved in a secret investigation into a global network of child abusers.

The total list of QAnon claims is enormous - and often contradictory.


Most recently, QAnon conspiracy theorists have spread a number of unfounded conspiracy theories about coronavirus, ranging from claims about the pandemic being a “hoax” to outlandish suggestions about face masks and vaccines.

The central theory about a malicious “deep-state” network of elites, followed on from the “pizzagate” saga in 2016 - a fake theory about Democratic Party politicians running a paedophile ring out of a Washington pizza restaurant.

Many QAnon influencers have big audiences on social media. They urge followers to “do their own research” - in other words, watch YouTube videos and talk to other supporters - to solve Q’s puzzles.

You might also be interested in watching:

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionHow to talk about conspiracy theories

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Itemsblocksconspiracyhashtagsqanontheorytiktok
Tech
24th July 2020
Newsexplored @newsexploredweb

Related Itemsblocksconspiracyhashtagsqanontheorytiktok

More in Tech

  • Read More
    Amazon unveils flying Ring security drone and Luna games service

    Views:2 By Leo Kelion & Chris FoxTechnology reporters image copyrightAmazon image captionThe Always Home Cam covers up...

    Newsexplored 24th July 2020
  • Read More
    Apple App Store faces coalition of unhappy developers

    Views:2 image copyrightGetty Images Several major developers have formed a coalition to fight Apple over its app...

    Newsexplored 24th July 2020
  • Read More
    Facebook ‘Supreme Court’ to begin work before US Presidential vote

    Views:2 By Leo KelionTechnology desk editor Related Topics image copyrightGetty Images/Facebook image captionHelle Thorning-Schmidt and 19 other...

    Newsexplored 24th July 2020
  • Read More
    Google removes Uluru virtual walk from Street View

    Views:2 Google has removed images on Street View that allowed people to virtually walk to the summit...

    Newsexplored 24th July 2020
  • Read More
    NHS Covid-19 app: England and Wales get smartphone contact tracing for over-16s

    Views:2 By Leo Kelion & Rory Cellan-JonesTechnology reporters Related Topics image captionUsers will be told to self-isolate...

    Newsexplored 24th July 2020
  • Read More
    Advertisers strike social media deal over hate speech

    Views:2 image copyrightGetty Images image captionMark Zuckerberg found himself dealing with irate advertisers earlier this year Facebook,...

    Newsexplored 24th July 2020
  • Read More
    NHS Covid-19 app: How England and Wales’ contact-tracing service works

    Views:2 By Leo Kelion and Rory Cellan-JonesTechnology reporters It has been a long time coming but England...

    Newsexplored 24th July 2020
  • Read More
    Facebook shuts down 150 fake Chinese accounts

    Views:2 Facebook has shut down a network of more than 150 fake profiles linked to China for...

    Newsexplored 24th July 2020
  • Read More
    Huawei: ‘Survival is the goal’ as it stockpiles chips

    Views:2 image copyrightReuters image captionGuo Ping laid out the problems Huawei faced, at its annual conference Huawei...

    Newsexplored 24th July 2020
  • Read More
    Musk: Cheaper Tesla ready ‘in about three years’

    Views:2 By James ClaytonNorth America technology reporter image copyrightGetty Images Tesla founder Elon Musk has announced technology...

    Newsexplored 24th July 2020
  • Read More
    Video game loot boxes: another form of gambling?

    Views:2 image copyrightGetty Images The government is asking for the public’s opinion about the impact of loot...

    Newsexplored 24th July 2020
  • Read More
    Coronavirus: ‘Government must publish contact-tracing app data’

    Views:2 Related Topics image copyrightPA Media image captionThe NHS Covid-19 app is set to become available to...

    Newsexplored 24th July 2020
Scroll for more
Tap
data-ad-format="auto">
NewsExplored

NewsExplored - Making sure all the latest news is explored?

Contact us for help

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • Comments

  • Alan Minter: British boxing legend dies at 69
    Sports10th September 2020
  • Teacher Kandice Barber denies sex offences against pupil
    UK2nd September 2020
  • Obituary: Sir Terence Conran
    Entertainment12th September 2020
  • Political parties accept over £250,000 in furlough cash
    Politics3rd September 2020
  • FBI probes police killing of boy on family’s drive
    USA25th September 2020
  • Breonna Taylor: Family lawyer slams ‘devilish’ grand jury outcome
    USA24th September 2020
  • Pregnant woman rescues husband from shark attack in Florida
    USA24th September 2020
  • US election: McConnell promises an ‘orderly’ transition of power
    USA24th September 2020
  • Les Rehrer says:

    Hello Its me :P and thanks for this post

  • optumrx login says:

    Thank For News.

  • Kent Laatsch says:

    Please let me know if you're looking for a writer…

  • Bob says:

    RT News was where I learned that Erdogan controlled isis.…

Copyright © 2018 Top News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by Wordpress.

Intel’s next-generation 7nm chips delayed until 2022
Garmin smartwatch users cannot get hands on data
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok