The tiktok-ification of language Tiktok, while producing some funny content as well as bringing numerous issues to attention, has a massive problem with censoring. I'm not talking in the "let [xyz] do what they want" I'm talking about the tiktok-ification of vocabulary.

"but June... what do you mean by that?"

On tiktok, it's pretty common to see censoring with numbers or mispelling the word, for example instead of spelling "tiktok" correctly it is spelled in like "t1kt0k" or "t1ktok". Though this is often done with words that may be more common triggers like suicide mention. I also would define this tiktok-ification as the use of euphamisms for things that should really... not have euphamism, for example using "unalive" instead of the word "suicide". However, this becomes a bigger problem with this moving out of tiktok and to other platforms and into mainstream vocabulary.

"But why is this an issue?"

Firstly, the censoring of the word itself means that on sites such as tumblr, where there is an established blacklisting system, those who have certain terms filtered so they do not see - for example the word "tiktok" - may still have posts bypassing that filter due to the word being intentionally mispelled. While this is an issue many have touched upon it is only part of the problem.

Another issue is that switching letters out with numbers in particular, especially with no translation of the original word, may make it hard for those with screenreaders and some people with disabilities to understand what is being said as it is obscured, as some (but not all) screenreaders may be unable to pick up what the censored word is.

However, what I believe to be a key issue that isn't touched upon outside of a few articles is that censoring in this way - for example you may frequently see people use "unalive" instead of "suicide" - does more harm than good, and instead only stigmatizes the word. An article on Wired discusses this in more detail, but I think highlighting this issue here is important. In using euphemisms for these words, we are making it into a secret thing, when discussions in and around suicide and other heavier topics should be focussed on bringing awareness and helping people discuss their experiences. With a large focus on destigmatizing mental health rather then making it a taboo subject through the censorship of the proper vocabulary.

The censoring of these terms, especially mental health terms, is akin to the censoring of talking about mensturation. Many people mensturate, why should it be censored? Why should it be an embarassing topic? This idea of mensturation being treated as a special inside group is reflected in the language used to say literally anything else except the word mensturate. hell, here's even a list of 15 other words some may use instead of period or menstration. These words, these basic facts of life, shouldn't be treated as unspeakable Many people mensturate, there are many people who die to suicide. These are facts of life, and in censoring the discussion around these, we are making them harder to talk about.

So... What can we do about it?

Educate! Tell people why it is bad, tell people to be more conscious of their word choice in talking about these topics. Using the correct language is always, always the first step towards destigmatizing a topic.