“History has its eyes on you.” Hamilton's 10th anniversary performance at the 78th Annual Tony Awards was speculated to be more than fan entertainment. For the majority of the audience, it was perceived as a political message to remind President Trump and the world, through the media, of the truths behind why the United States of America was founded originally and what the founding fathers had intended it to be.

In the wake of the global spread of technology, the media’s role in society has undergone significant expansion. Once a passive route for conveying information, modern media has transformed into a space where different sorts of narratives are carefully constructed to serve specific meanings. 

However, unlike the Hamilton performance, some of these narratives are often censored to suppress opposition and manipulated to shape public perception in favor of those in power.

On January 19, 2025, the social media platform TikTok was briefly banned in the United States. Officials cited “national security concerns” over fears that the Chinese government was accessing and potentially exploiting the personal data of American citizens. While the government continuously promoted that the decision was in the best interest of public safety, critics questioned whether the move was truly about national security. In fact, many believed such actions were a politically motivated attempt to restrict the influence of a platform known for amplifying political activism, particularly among younger generations.

When the app resumed twelve hours later, users were greeted with a message: “Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.” 

The wording of the message subtly positioned the return of the app as a political victory, crediting the administration and framing the incident as a successful intervention rather than a disruption. For many users, this raised concerns about whether the ban was more about political posturing than genuine national security concerns. In the days following the reinstatement, users reported an increase in censorship, with political awareness videos facing unusual algorithmic suppression and restricted reach. 

Months later, TikTok influencer Bofa Deez posted a video expressing frustration with what he described as the U.S. government’s authoritarian tendencies. The video reached over 28 million views, but when users attempted to share it, they were met with warnings to “check their sources,” and sharing capabilities were restricted. After significant user backlash, TikTok eventually restored the video’s reach and sharing features.

After the video was back to normal, Deez posted a follow-up video explaining what had happened. 

“When the video got disqualified, the reasoning TikTok gave for banning it was alcohol and tobacco,” Deez said. “I tried to appeal, but the button had disappeared. Right after that, I got 2 back to back-to-back notifications that said the video was disqualified for violating community guidelines. The reason I’m upset is that why did so many people had to stitch my video for it to come back.”

Incidents like these raise serious questions about the extent to which platforms suppress voices. While content moderation is a necessary tool for managing misinformation and harmful content, the line between moderation and political censorship can quickly blur. When social media platforms limit the reach of videos that question the government or impose bans on unrelated guideline violations, users are left to wonder what information is being hidden from them. 

TikTok’s response to Deez’s video, alongside the aftermath of the 2025 TikTok ban, is an example of how media narratives can be influenced not only to inform but also to control. This results in a distorted lens, charged by political interests, subtle censorship, and algorithmic power, through which the public must decipher the truth.