Content creators in Saudi Arabia have launched a boycott campaign against TikTok, citing concerns over the removal and restriction of videos that condemn Houthi attacks on the Kingdom and express support for Saudi Arabia. The campaign, using the slogan "Saudi Arabia is a red line," began on Tuesday and highlights complaints from users who say their posts were flagged for breaching TikTok’s Community Guidelines without clear explanations.
Several Saudi content creators reported that videos addressing recent Houthi attacks—targeting economic infrastructure, airports, and threatening the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah—were either removed or made ineligible for TikTok’s For You feed recommendations. Many creators use social media platforms to voice support for the Saudi government and military in response to these incidents.
Joud AlBader, a Saudi creator with over 200,000 followers, said three of her videos supporting Saudi Arabia were removed shortly after posting but restored following appeals. She maintained that her content was respectful and sought to counter misinformation about the Kingdom, while not promoting hate, harassment, or violence. AlBader described the experience as unprecedented and expressed frustration over the lack of specific details on which rules her content allegedly violated.
Other creators reported similar experiences and confirmed that TikTok had sent them notifications or emails about guideline violations. Despite some successful appeals, AlBader and others called for more transparency and a better understanding of regional sensitivities from TikTok’s Middle East and North Africa team.
One prominent advocate of the boycott is Al-Khaboobiyah Ameerah, known on TikTok as Alkhuboya, who has nearly 900,000 followers focused on traditional Saudi culture. She joined the campaign after learning from a fellow technology-focused creator about the removal of politically sensitive content. Ameerah said the boycott’s timing on Oct. 27 was deliberate, coinciding with the date many Saudis receive their salaries, a period in which significant spending occurs on the platform through livestreams, shopping, and advertising.
Ameerah also shared that her own posts highlighting Saudi Arabia’s Islamic heritage, including the expansion of the Two Holy Mosques and support for pilgrims, had faced restrictions. She and other creators view these actions as inconsistent with TikTok’s community policies.
TikTok responded by asserting that its moderation practices are impartial and not influenced by political considerations. The company emphasized that decisions are made in line with global safety standards combined with local cultural insights and that content deemed unsuitable for wide audiences may be excluded from For You recommendations even if not removed. TikTok also noted that creators are notified of moderation actions and can appeal decisions if they believe an error has been made.
Another Saudi creator, Abdulrahman A., known as @Abdu_emu, described similar experiences with TikTok’s moderation. After posting videos condemning the Houthi attacks and affirming confidence in Saudi leadership, he received notifications about guideline violations and content ineligibility for recommendation. Like others, Abdulrahman expressed uncertainty about the reasons behind the restrictions and concern that content related to regional conflicts might face heightened scrutiny on international platforms.
The boycott reflects ongoing tensions surrounding the Houthi conflict and highlights broader issues related to content moderation and freedom of expression on global social media platforms in politically sensitive contexts. Saudi creators continue to call for clearer guidelines and improved communication from TikTok regarding their content policies.