Shopify is allowing anti-LGBTQ "Libs of TikTok" to sell merchandise on its platform - Media Matters for America

Summary

Anti-LGBTQ social media account “Libs of TikTok” is selling merchandise through Shopify, even though the platform claims that its services may not be used “to promote or condone hate,” and is using Instagram’s link sticker feature to direct people there, seemingly in violation of both platform’s policies.

In the last several months, as anti-LGBTQ rhetoric has ramped up on the right, Libs of TikTok has become a favorite among right-wing media figures and outlets. A significant driver in the fabricated “groomer” narrative, its Twitter and Instagram accounts have been used repeatedly to misgender people, target teachers who support their LGBTQ students, and flag Pride Month events, at least two of which were later targeted by white supremacist organizations, including the Proud Boys and Patriot Front.

Anti-LGBTQ social media account “Libs of TikTok” is selling merchandise through Shopify, even though the platform claims that its services may not be used “to promote or condone hate,” and is using Instagram’s link sticker feature to direct people there, seemingly in violation of both platform’s policies.

In the last several months, as anti-LGBTQ rhetoric has ramped up on the right, Libs of TikTok has become a favorite among right-wing media figures and outlets. A significant driver in the fabricated “groomer” narrative, its Twitter and Instagram accounts have been used repeatedly to misgender people, target teachers who support their LGBTQ students, and flag Pride Month events, at least two of which were later targeted by white supremacist organizations, including the Proud Boys and Patriot Front.

In February, The New York Post reported that Chaya Raichik, the person behind Libs of TikTok, did have “future plans to monetize her work,” despite her claiming that she doesn’t “do this for money.” However, Seth Dillon, CEO of the conservative satire account The Babylon Bee, announced in April that he had “worked out a deal” with Raichik to “turn her heroic, high-risk work into a career.” It seems that Raichik is now trying to further monetize her anti-LGBTQ platform by selling t-shirts, mugs, hats, and other merchandise emblazoned with the Libs of TikTok logo on Shopify.

Raichik’s use of Shopify to sell Libs of TikTok merchandise seems to be in violation of its acceptable use policy, which states: