TikTok is going through backlash as soon as once more, now for eradicating a function that displayed the view counts of hashtags on the social media platform. First reported by The Washington Put up, it’s believed the change was made after critics stated the app was boosting pro-Palestinian content material.

Because the report states, educational researchers are shocked by the disabling of hashtag view counts, since they considered it as an vital instrument in measuring viewership information for learning the unfold of dangerous content material and developments. Regarding the Israel-Gaza battle, the Put up stated that researchers used viewership counts to measure the large distinction between supporters of the 2 sides amongst TikTok customers.

The change got here with no announcement and, in accordance with a TikTok spokesperson, was carried out final month. The spokesperson continued, saying that altering the hashtag show from view rely to the variety of posts was “consistent with business requirements” and that there have been “different methods to check TikTok content material.”

This elimination of transparency instruments by TikTok is unsurprising because it follows broader developments inside the social media house. As identified by the Put up, X (previously Twitter) and Meta have each restricted information entry to journalists and researchers inside the final couple of years citing “privateness issues” and “misuse.” The identical reasoning has been cited by TikTok after limiting the features of its Inventive Heart stating that it was for advertisers and that researchers have been drawing “inaccurate conclusions.”