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==Background and history==
==Background and history==
Though previously unknown, Chaya Raichik was revealed as the account's creator by [[Programmer|software developer]] Travis Brown in April 2022. Raichik, a real estate agent from [[Brooklyn]], created the account in November 2020. Libs of Tiktok was previously a personal account with the handle @shaya69830552 and later @shaya_ray and @ChayaRaichik. Raichik then changed her handle to @cuomomustgo, focusing on demanding the resignation of [[Governor of New York|New York Governor]] [[Andrew Cuomo]] and also promoting the [[2021 California gubernatorial recall election|attempted recall]] of [[Governor of California|California Governor]] [[Gavin Newsom]]. By March 2021, Raichik had changed the handle to @houseplantpotus, tweeting as a houseplant in the [[White House]] of [[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[Joe Biden]]. After this [[Parody|parody account]] failed to gain much traction, the account finally became @libsoftiktok in April 2021. In August 2021, [[Joe Rogan]] began promoting the account on his podcast ''[[The Joe Rogan Experience]]'', leading to a large increase in followers. Also in August, [[lawyer]] and [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] operative [[Grant Lally]] filed a trademark for Libs of TikTok as a "news reporter service."<ref name="dd" /><ref name="wapo">{{cite web |last=Lorenz |first=Taylor |author-link=Taylor Lorenz |date=April 19, 2022 |title=Meet the woman behind Libs of TikTok, secretly fueling the right’s outrage machine |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/04/19/libs-of-tiktok-right-wing-media/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419162842/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/04/19/libs-of-tiktok-right-wing-media/ |archive-date=April 19, 2022 |access-date=April 19, 2022 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |url-status=live}}</ref>
Though previously unknown, Chaya Raichik was revealed as the account's creator in April 2022. Raichik, a real estate agent from [[Brooklyn]], created the account in November 2020. Libs of Tiktok was previously a personal account with the handle @shaya69830552 and later @shaya_ray and @ChayaRaichik. Raichik then changed her handle to @cuomomustgo, focusing on demanding the resignation of [[Governor of New York|New York Governor]] [[Andrew Cuomo]] and also promoting the [[2021 California gubernatorial recall election|attempted recall]] of [[Governor of California|California Governor]] [[Gavin Newsom]]. By March 2021, Raichik had changed the handle to @houseplantpotus, tweeting as a houseplant in the [[White House]] of [[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[Joe Biden]]. After this [[Parody|parody account]] failed to gain much traction, the account finally became @libsoftiktok in April 2021. In August 2021, [[Joe Rogan]] began promoting the account on his podcast ''[[The Joe Rogan Experience]]'', leading to a large increase in followers. Also in August, [[lawyer]] and [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] operative [[Grant Lally]] filed a trademark for Libs of TikTok as a "news reporter service."<ref name="dd" /><ref name="wapo">{{cite web |last=Lorenz |first=Taylor |author-link=Taylor Lorenz |date=April 19, 2022 |title=Meet the woman behind Libs of TikTok, secretly fueling the right’s outrage machine |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/04/19/libs-of-tiktok-right-wing-media/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419162842/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/04/19/libs-of-tiktok-right-wing-media/ |archive-date=April 19, 2022 |access-date=April 19, 2022 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |url-status=live}}</ref>


On April 13, 2022, Libs of TikTok was suspended from Twitter for 12 hours for "hateful conduct".<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 April 2022 |title=Twitter suspends conservative 'Libs of TikTok' account for 12 hours over 'hateful conduct' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/tech/twitter-suspends-conservative-libs-of-tiktok-account-12-hours-hateful-conduct |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=[[Fox News]]}}</ref> Hours after the account was reinstated, it was again suspended from Twitter for 12 hours. In response, Raichik said that "The good news is that I'm doing something right and making a difference" and that "The left obviously feels threatened by my account and as [[Tucker Carlson|Tucker [Carlson]]] said last night, 'it was targeted because once you see what these people are saying, they discredit themselves.'"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Creitz |first=Charles |date=2022-04-15 |title=Libs of Tik Tok responds to second Twitter suspension hours after reinstatement: 'The left feels threatened' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/libs-of-tik-tok-twitter-suspension-second-ban-videos-liberals |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref>
On April 13, 2022, Libs of TikTok was suspended from Twitter for 12 hours for "hateful conduct".<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 April 2022 |title=Twitter suspends conservative 'Libs of TikTok' account for 12 hours over 'hateful conduct' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/tech/twitter-suspends-conservative-libs-of-tiktok-account-12-hours-hateful-conduct |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=[[Fox News]]}}</ref> Hours after the account was reinstated, it was again suspended from Twitter for 12 hours. In response, Raichik said that "The good news is that I'm doing something right and making a difference" and that "The left obviously feels threatened by my account and as [[Tucker Carlson|Tucker [Carlson]]] said last night, 'it was targeted because once you see what these people are saying, they discredit themselves.'"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Creitz |first=Charles |date=2022-04-15 |title=Libs of Tik Tok responds to second Twitter suspension hours after reinstatement: 'The left feels threatened' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/libs-of-tik-tok-twitter-suspension-second-ban-videos-liberals |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref>

Revision as of 22:11, 19 April 2022

@libsoftiktok
Years active2020–present
Website@libsoftiktok on Twitter[1]

Libs of TikTok is a conservative Twitter account created by California-based real estate agent Chaya Raichik in 2020. The account primarily reposts content created by left-wing, liberal and LGBT TikTok users with the intent of mockery. It has over 674,000 followers and has become influential among conservatives.[2][3][4][5]

Background and history

Though previously unknown, Chaya Raichik was revealed as the account's creator in April 2022. Raichik, a real estate agent from Brooklyn, created the account in November 2020. Libs of Tiktok was previously a personal account with the handle @shaya69830552 and later @shaya_ray and @ChayaRaichik. Raichik then changed her handle to @cuomomustgo, focusing on demanding the resignation of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and also promoting the attempted recall of California Governor Gavin Newsom. By March 2021, Raichik had changed the handle to @houseplantpotus, tweeting as a houseplant in the White House of U.S. President Joe Biden. After this parody account failed to gain much traction, the account finally became @libsoftiktok in April 2021. In August 2021, Joe Rogan began promoting the account on his podcast The Joe Rogan Experience, leading to a large increase in followers. Also in August, lawyer and Republican operative Grant Lally filed a trademark for Libs of TikTok as a "news reporter service."[2][3]

On April 13, 2022, Libs of TikTok was suspended from Twitter for 12 hours for "hateful conduct".[6] Hours after the account was reinstated, it was again suspended from Twitter for 12 hours. In response, Raichik said that "The good news is that I'm doing something right and making a difference" and that "The left obviously feels threatened by my account and as Tucker [Carlson] said last night, 'it was targeted because once you see what these people are saying, they discredit themselves.'"[7]

On April 19, 2022, The Washington Post reporter Taylor Lorenz published an exposé on Libs of TikTok that revealed the identity of the person behind the account as Chaya Raichik.[5] Conservatives criticized the exposure of Raichik as the account owner, accusing Lorenz of doxxing.[8][9] In response to the exposé, Libs of TikTok tweeted "Words cannot express how appreciative I am of the support I'm receiving right now. Thankfully I'm currently holed up in a safe location. I'm confident we will get through this and come out even stronger. Grateful for all the thoughts and prayers". Lorenz defended her reporting, saying "The woman behind Libs of TikTok is an influencer who knows she operates a powerful online media brand" and that "She's threatened copycats with takedowns (see below), filed a trademark for the name, and inked partnerships w/ other right wing media co.", and added that "Raichik isn't just some average woman w/ a social media account, she's a powerful influencer operating a massively impactful right wing media shaping the discourse around LGBTQ+ rights".[10]

Raichik claims to run the account alone and said she does not do it for "money or fame". She said she moved from New York to California to turn the account into her full-time job.[2] Libs of TikTok has expanded to other mainstream platforms such as Instagram and YouTube, as well as right-wing alternatives such as Rumble, Gab, and Gettr. For a short period of time, it had its own TikTok account, but that account was suspended for violating TikTok's community guidelines.[3]

Content

Libs of TikTok has largely focused on conservative and anti-LGBT content.[2][3][5] The account has claimed that being gender non-conforming and being an ally of the LGBT community is a "mental illness", that adults teaching children about LGBT identities is "abusive", referred to schools as "government run indoctrination camps" for the LGBT community, and deliberately misgendered transgender people.[2][3] The account used the "groomer" epithet aimed at LGBT people.[3] The account has also criticized mask mandates for children during the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]

Reception and impact

Libs of TikTok has been promoted by Joe Rogan and Glenn Greenwald. It has been featured in the New York Post, The Federalist, The Post Millennial, Fox News, and other right-wing news outlets. The account has been retweeted by Meghan McCain.[3] In speaking on the Parental Rights in Education bill (known as the Don't Say Gay bill by critics), Christina Pushaw credited the account for "opening her eyes" on LGBT education.[3]

Prior to being revealed as the account creator, Raichik was interviewed anonymously on several occasions, during which she boasted that the account has gotten several teachers fired, and encouraged followers to take over school boards in order to remove LGBT teachers.[3]

Ari Drennen, the LGBTQ program director for left-leaning media watchdog group Media Matters for America, said that "Libs of TikTok is basically acting as a wire service for the broader right-wing media ecosystem" and that "It's been shaping public policy in a real way, and affecting teachers' ability to feel safe in their classrooms." Gillian Branstetter, a media strategist for the American Civil Liberties Union, said that "The role I've seen this account playing is finding new characters for right-wing propaganda" and that "It's relying on the endless stream of content from TikTok and the Internet to cast any individual trans person as a new villain in their story."[3]

References

  1. ^ Higgins, Emily (April 19, 2022). "Chaya Raichik - Verified Handles". Verified Handles. Archived from the original on April 19, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e Goforth, Claire (April 18, 2022). "Libs of TikTok—the influential, mystery Twitter account hailed by mainstream conservatives—attended Jan. 6 Capitol protest". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on April 19, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Lorenz, Taylor (April 19, 2022). "Meet the woman behind Libs of TikTok, secretly fueling the right's outrage machine". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 19, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  4. ^ Quay, Grayson (April 19, 2022). "Conservatives complain of 'doxxing' after exposé reveals woman behind 'Libs of TikTok' account". The Week. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Bain, Ellissa (April 19, 2022). "Who is 'Libs of TikTok' and why is she trending this week?". HITC. Archived from the original on April 19, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  6. ^ "Twitter suspends conservative 'Libs of TikTok' account for 12 hours over 'hateful conduct'". Fox News. April 13, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  7. ^ Creitz, Charles (April 15, 2022). "Libs of Tik Tok responds to second Twitter suspension hours after reinstatement: 'The left feels threatened'". Fox News. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  8. ^ Skolnik, Jon (April 19, 2022). "On Twitter, "Libs of TikTok" stokes culture wars outrage". Salon.
  9. ^ a b Bouza, Kat (April 19, 2022). "Taylor Lorenz Wrote About Libs Of TikTok — and Conservatives Won't Shut Up About It". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 19, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  10. ^ Jackson, Jon (April 19, 2022). "Libs of TikTok creator "holed up in safe location" after expose". Newsweek. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
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