TikTok pulls #autismchallenge posts mocking disabled people

Wed,20 May 2020
News Equality & Rights

The social media platform TikTok has been under fire for allowing users to post videos of themselves mocking people with autism by producing dances that feature traits such as stimming.

A spokesperson for TikTok told DR UK: "This content does not reflect our values and is against the code of conduct outlined in our Community Guidelines. The hashtag in question has been removed and any similar content that violates our Community Guidelines will also be removed." 

The platform, which allows its 800 million users to post 15 second videos which can then go viral, saw people posting under the hashtag #autismchallenge, just three months after it admitted deliberately limiting the reach of posts by disabled people 'to prevent bullying'.