If you've ever read George Orwell's dystopian novel "1984," you might recall the concept of "newspeak," a language designed to limit thought and control concepts. In this fictional world, words are altered or simplified to narrow the range of thought. For instance, the word "good" is replaced by "doubleplusgood," removing the ability to express varying degrees of positivity. Similarly, when someone is missing, deceased, or has migrated, they are "unpersoned" rather than acknowledged with the appropriate terms. Newspeak serves to censor and restrict the interpretation of words and thoughts, raising the question: Does it bear any resemblance to our modern society? Enter TikTok, a popular social media platform where individuals share content and shape societal thinking. It has spawned its own form of language known as "Algospeak." The Washington Post defines Algospeak as "code words or turns of phrase users have adopted to create a brand-safe lexicon, avoiding content removal or down-ranking by moderation systems." …show more content…
While this language safeguards content and mitigates the risk of shadowbanning (restricting or hiding content on TikTok), its impact on society is far-reaching. By replacing words, the intended meaning may be lost or altered, and it disrespects the original definition. For instance, "accountant" now refers to sex workers, disregarding the profession's true identity. Algospeak can also be used to spread hate in secret, such as using terms like "Ninja" to target the black community or "cornucopia" instead of "homophobia." This hidden hate may lead to feelings of displacement and further impact mental health. Algospeak, much like newspeak, limits thought and affects people's