Ideas
Israel’s Moral, Existential Fight
6 min read
4 min read
As the digital marketer for Aish, I am appalled by what I am seeing happening on TikTok.
In a recent call with TikTok executives, actor Sasha Baron Cohen said that the app is responsible for “creating the biggest antisemitic movement since the Nazis.”
The bold remark is far from unfounded. Cohen and more than 30 other Hollywood celebrities and influencers joined the call with TikTok.They expressed their concern over the surge in antisemitic content and misinformation on TikTok following the October 7th massacre of Israeli civilians by Hamas terrorists.
Sasha Baron Cohen said that TikTok is responsible for “creating the biggest antisemitic movement since the Nazis.”
Actress Debra Messing expressed outrage at the platform’s failure to moderate the slogan “from the river to the sea,” which calls for the eradication of Jews from Israel. She said, “I understand that you are in a very, very difficult and complicated place, but you also are the main platform for the dissemination of Jew hate.”
The meeting was initiated by Jewish celebrities, including Amy Schumer and Montana Tucker, who wrote TikTok executives, remarking, “Dear TikTok, Your Platform is not safe for Jewish users.” In their letter, they said, "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?”
Criticism around the TikTok platform has been growing over the past few weeks, as comments such as “Hitler was right” or “I hope you end up like Anne Frank” are left under videos posted by Jewish users without any issue from the moderators.
It was tough to believe until I started to see it for myself with the digital marketing I do at Aish.
On October 7th, all social media platforms experienced a massive influx of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish content. At Aish, we’ve been working to counter the hate by sharing inspirational messages from our soldiers in Israel, heartwarming acts of kindness by Jews worldwide, and inspiring others to have hope in the Jewish nation.
Thankfully, our team had tremendous success. In the weeks following the war, we experienced more video views, engagements, and follower growth on our social channels than we have ever experienced before. In the first four weeks following the war, we had over 63,000,000 video views, 4,500,000 engagements, and more than 122,000 new followers across our socials. We received incredible feedback, inspired Jews to reconnect with their roots, and helped spread the truth about what is really happening in Israel.
Promoting our content via ad channels wasn’t an issue until we came to TikTok.
Since the war in Israel began, TikTok has flagged almost any reel we try to promote. This includes videos of Jews singing ‘Am Yisrael Chai’, a Holocaust survivor blessing his grandson to be safe while protecting Israel, and Jewish people gathering to sing Hatikva, the national anthem of Israel. It’s not exactly hateful or discriminatory content, to say the least.
None of this content was flagged on any other ad platforms. As a digital marketing professional, it isn’t uncommon to see ad content flagged for a variety of reasons. What was uncommon was that after every post we tried to promote, we got a warning that our entire account may be suspended.
I decided to play it safe and would no longer promote any content relating to Israel. So what could be more innocent than a video on how to bake challah?
TikTok banned this threatening challah video.
The TikTok moderators thought otherwise.
Our ads had been rejected because “the ad may feature or promote political content.” Challah didn’t seem very political to me, so we tried to appeal the claim, but our appeal was rejected.
In the days following, we received an email from TikTok with the following message:
At the same time, our account has been flooded with hateful, antisemitic comments. Somehow, these must have all passed under the radar of the diligent TikTok moderators.
A lot of good happens on TikTok. Aish has used TikTok to connect Jews around the world to Jewish wisdom and inspiration. Without TikTok, reaching an entire demographic of young Jewish Americans would be considerably more difficult.
But we cannot stand idly by when we see evil and hate. We need to raise our voices about the onslaught of antisemitic and anti-Israel attacks on social media over the past few weeks.
Whether it’s TikTok moderators, social media commenters, or antisemitic influencers, we will continue to stand up for what is right and fight hatred. This is our moral duty. Am Yisrael Chai.
As has been posted - When you look at all the other news - & start connecting the dots - of the various news releases -Tik-Tok - is actually run by the auspices - & information collection - of the Chinese Gov. Many of the dots - show the Chinese disdain for Israel & their desire for world domination. SO - once you have Awareness of a lie - a falsehood - or a problem - then - doing nothing - ='s condoning - perpetuating & being complicit with the lie - the falsehood - or the problem.
So should we stop using tiktok in protest of their behavior towards aish?
I certainly plan to do just that. Those screen shots in the aish article were nauseating. Let tik tok go the way of myspace!
Contact the CEO! This isn’t right
100% accurate. It's so frustrating seeing so much ignorance. I spend time venting with respectful facts and encouragement to learn the history.... sometimes providing links. It's a simple cut and paste excercise. We will persevere, but can't sink down to their level.
Thank you Aishe for all you do!!🙏🏋♂️🏆
Suggestions on what we can do to stop Tik Tok antisemitism ?
That is not true. Elon Musk, the owner of X is not anti-Semitic. He, like many others, is a victim of the liberal woke media that witch-hunts and defames all who don't kowtow to their agenda. He recently came to Israel and was totally supported Israel in its right to defend itself and destroy Hamas. How many "non Anti-Semitic" liberal influencers publicly assert that today? Don't let them manipulate you!
Shameful
Social media is the bane of modern society. X has an antisemitic owner.
Sorry, but TikTok is owned by China, and China gets more from Iranian oil than it does from Israeli technology, which it probably steals.
China, like Canaan, is a descendant of Ham.
They are on the same side.
It's not about logic.
Fortunately, Hashem is on our side!
Tragic antisemiticism and genocidal hatred. Am a Zionist Christian and love all that I've learned from AISH and other Israeli sources. I have the deepest love, respect and honor for God's chosen people. I post and pray for you daily.
We must do what they do not,think and be moderate.Tuda.
I wish everyone would get off social media.
Get off Tik Tok! Just poisonous. Leave them to their own despicable devices. There are enough other platforms out there.
I'm afraid if we all leave TikTok, the overall most popular social media app for young people, that the next generation will only learn to hate us, with no push back against their antisemitic lies. We need to target the company itself and perhaps get government oversight to get involved. It's a HUGE issue and we're way too tiny of a presence to combat these awful narratives all by ourselves!
The head of Culture at TikTok was a frum Jew although I noticed that she has left now. Too bad she wasn't able to do something about this while she was there.
We are heading straight into war. Guess what side I'm on! Zachor!
yes,baking challah is very threatening, but wishing death on people is not..the crazies are running the asylum. How tragic 😥
Thanks for sharing. May the battery driving tick tok fizzle out asap.
GREAT!
TikTok MUST be banned in Israel, first of all, and in ALL of western civilization. You can connect with other Jews on other platforms! It is an evil entity run by the Jew-hating Chinese govt. who work with the palestinazis and the other muslim slime groups.
Ruth I couldn’t agree with you more! I refer to it as “Kak Yok”! Kak is Afrikaans for faeces!
TikTok is a propaganda tool of the People's Republic of China. China cooperates with Russia, Russia cooperates with Iran - and Iran cooperates with Hamas. Like all social media in China, TikTok is controlled by the Chinese police and intelligence services. Deep fakes can be created at any time by China's propaganda services and introduced into TikTok. Otherwise, regions, countries, groups or people can also be excluded. Regions and countries can be served at any time in a targeted and "target-oriented" manner. TikTok can destabilize countries, democracy and society - spread disinformation. Interesting information can also be found at "Nina Schick. Deepfakes".
I don’t have a Tik Tok account, only Instagram and Facebook. On Instagram, some of my comments were flagged for possible violations. They contained word like this, “ Hashem bless them🙏🇮🇱🇮🇱✡️✡️🇵🇦🌼🦋. I was suspended for 48 hours from commenting while under review. After Nov 23, I am allowed to comment now. Meanwhile I see so many hateful comments from people who claim to want to Free Palestine.
I think Jews are still behind on the social media front and international communications. They need totake control of their narrative, create a social media platform backed by them and let non Jews really read about their values, history of Israel, create an International Organization supporting Jews, Israelis, funded by Israel and allies, etc. Let Israel tell the world about Israel.
Great idea; problem is that the low-life anti-Semites on social media wouldn't listen -- and for that matter, neither would the big bosses (as proven in this excellent article). But we can try for the sake of those who still have minds of their own!
In theory an excellent idea. However you have lost sight of the fact that 80% of Yoks(non Jews) are anti Semetic and will never change!
I would like to know why the Jews of Hollywood are not coming out in favor of Israel, Steven Spielberg, Barbra Streisand
Jerry Seinfeld and others
Tik-Tok is run by the Chinese Communist Party. Our mishpocha on the Left would be well-advised to realize this.
A lot on TikTok is anti-human too. A number of countries -- including the US -- have banned it from federal devices, (half the states have too), and there is talk about banning it from civilians as well. (Afghanistan did that!:). Although that is mainly for security concerns, many educators -- including Gentiles -- have said it is have said it is terrible for youth's minds.
Besides the terrible content and terrible ideas being promoted, the idea of anonymous bloggers is a terrible thing -- especially when people take it a little too seriously. When a 16-year old committed suicide -- apparently due to cyberbullying on [anti]social media, his Instagram reel feed received bunch of HATE comments! All that would most certainly not have happened had they had a real-life relationship.
Relevance to this article?
Simple: Tik Tok is schlock, but the potential good news is that their clock is starting to tick . . . tock.
May they end up in oblivion long before more hatred can be spewed out of their sewer!
yes it seems very much that Tik Tok is antisemetic,absolutely hope the fury of fire comes down on them and the horrible ignorant pigs who have no idea about Israel and what they have been through. They don't go on about Hamas killing mothers who were pregnant and taking the babied out of there stomachs and killing them,this is the most evil act imaginable.
Tik-Tok has a point. After all, baking challah is a spiritual experience; one which might connect viewers to the Creator and promote values such as sanctity of life, justice and respect for the truth. Hardly on the agenda for haters.
🤣
Pardon my twist on a well-known fable: Your clever and very apt sarcasm might cause the clock to strike midnight for Tik Tokers who have been so charmed by Prince Alarming (aka Hamas, ym"s) that they can't (or worse, won't) see through ridiculous lies. Doesn't even matter whether they love evil or hate good; they'll end up the same: they may justly find themselves drowning in a leaky boat (from the river) with cruel and ugly stepsisters who are ingrates that deserve to end up at the bottom of the sea!
👍🏻