Users on TikTok searching for “WGA” are met with a screen claiming that the phrase “may be associated with behavior or content that violates our guidelines.” No videos return. Users are also unable to search for the “WGA” hashtag.

TikTok has also blocked the search term “WGA strike.”

Additionally, it appears that TikTok is blocking results from any simple search that includes “WGA” in the search term. Including “WGA” in addition to another word — like “WGA support” or “WGA strong” — blocks results.

Update (9/11/23): A TikTok spokesperson told Media Matters that “WGA has been inadvertently blocked as part of the platforms’ protections against QAnon conspiracy theories.” (WWG1WGA is a common QAnon phrase.) The spokesperson added that searches for “Writers Guild of America” and “Writers Guild of America Strike” were not impacted. Searches for “WGA” and related terms now appear to function normally.

(Thanks mike591, SCB, crowsby, and others for putting in the comments)

  • TwoGemsEnglish
    3•1 year ago

    I dunno they need to be thrown in wards or something. It’s like many of our parents and entire families infected by the Qanon.

    • @SCBEnglish
      5•1 year ago

      What’s weird is even smart people buy into it. My last boss is an amazing, caring, brilliant woman. She’s a senior leader at a Fortune 100 company!

      She got into Q via New Age hippie shit, which she got into after a bad divorce and “rediscovering” herself. Now she believes in vampires. It’s mind boggling.

      • TwoGemsEnglish
        1•1 year ago

        These people need an intervention. You can’t be all that smart buying into reptilians and Jewish laser space beams. Or they have dementia or something.

        • @SCBEnglish
          3•1 year ago

          Smart people can believe dumb shit because smart people are still just people