Libs of TikTok began as an anonymous troll account. Now it’s one of the most influential political forces in America - with the LGBTQ community firmly in their crosshairs.
Unmasked by a Washington Post investigation, Libs of TikTok is run by a former real-estate agent, Chaya Raichik, who has become the darling of the American right.
Her strategy is to repost footage from literal “libs of tik tok”, (namely LGBTQ people and their allies), and share it with her audience. Often framing it as a giant threatening movement that is “coming for your kids''. However, initial research shows that one in four accounts featured on her page will go on to experience real or online harassment.
But this online fear mongering is not happening in a vacuum. In the Statesm Anti-LGBTQ violence is at an all time high and it is being driven by the “groomer conspiracy”. A baseless claim that the LGBTQ community is indoctrinating, sexualizing and/or grooming children.
Now a whole ecosystem of right-wing influencers have sprung up to propagate this conspiracy. And they are having a direct influence on governors, legislation and violent extremists.
Watch more from this series:
White Supremacy Meets Eco-Warriors
https://youtu.be/aGXo--s15Nk
Conspiracy Theorists Are Creating Their Own Nation
https://youtu.be/i0ZbfkBCwtk
Why The Far Right Are So Weird About Sex
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdlXkgUGLv4&t=4s
Putin’s Secret Neo Nazi Armies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQc6mJ7u8gQ&t=538s
The Far Right Tribe Sacrificing Animals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGTlAE0dVnA&t=21s
Check out the VICE World News playlist for global reporting you won't find elsewhere: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLw613M86o5o4S3BXgi3bCiIVuopQxIMgV
Click here to subscribe to VICE: http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE
About VICE:
The Definitive Guide To Enlightening Information. From every corner of the planet, our immersive, caustic, ground-breaking and often bizarre stories have changed the way people think about culture, crime, art, parties, fashion, protest, the internet and other subjects that don't even have names yet. Browse the growing library and discover corners of the world you never knew existed. Welcome to VICE.
Connect with VICE:
Check out our full video catalog: http://bit.ly/VICE-Videos
Videos, daily editorial and more: http://vice.com
More videos from the VICE network: https://www.fb.com/vicevideo
Click here to get the best of VICE daily: http://bit.ly/1SquZ6v
Like VICE on Facebook: http://fb.com/vice
Follow VICE on Twitter: http://twitter.com/vice
Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/vice
Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vice?lang=en
The VICE YouTube Network:
VICE: https://www.youtube.com/VICE
MUNCHIES: https://www.youtube.com/MUNCHIES
VICE News: https://www.youtube.com/VICENews
VICELAND: https://www.youtube.com/VICELANDTV
Vice Life: https://www.youtube.com/Broadly
Noisey: https://www.youtube.com/Noisey
Motherboard: https://www.youtube.com/MotherboardTV
VICE Sports: https://www.youtube.com/NOC
i-D: http://www.youtube.com/iDmagazine
Waypoint: https://www.youtube.com/WaypointVICE