TikTok plans to crack down on influencers who use the video-sharing app to publish reviews and recommendations for popular weight loss drugs such as Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy.
Starting in May, the ByteDance-owned app, which has more than 170 million users in the U.S., will no longer allow influencers to upload “before and after” photos. New set of community guidelines It was published last week.
The changes include not allowing minors to view or share content that promotes “potentially harmful” weight loss-related behaviors, including drug use.
TikTok, which may be banned in the U.S., also says it will crack down on “potentially harmful weight management content, including diets, medications, or exercise aimed at rapid or significant weight loss or muscle gain.” did. – Long-term health or welfare risks. ”
The move aims to curb content that is perceived to “promote an ideal or perfect body shape in relation to potentially harmful weight management behaviors”.
Some TikTok users with large followings complained about the policy change.
“This is 100% discrimination against people who are obese, people with type 2 diabetes, people with chronic conditions, people with health issues,” Dave Knapp said in a video posted to TikTok on Friday. .
“If someone with multiple sclerosis starts talking about their medications, are you going to shut them down too?”
Kim Carlos, another influencer who has been posting about weight loss drugs since 2022, said: told Bloomberg News She noticed that several videos with the hashtags #Ozempic, #Zepbound, and #GLP-1 were immediately flagged for review.
“The purpose is to help people,” Carlos said.
She told Bloomberg News that she will focus on delivering content to a broader audience on other platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok rival Clapper. She follows a bill in Congress that could force the site to shut down.
“If this happens, where should I go?” Carlos said.
Alexis Klingenpeel, 25, quit her job as a hotel manager last week to pursue a full-time career as a TikTok influencer who posts about her weight loss journey.
Klingenpeel entered into a marketing agreement with a telemedicine company that paid her to promote her services on TikTok.
However, the app began removing some of her content, fueling fears that she would be permanently banned.
“TikTok is my livelihood and how I pay my rent,” she said. “You could lose everything.”
The Post has reached out to TikTok for comment.
The popularity of weight loss drugs has led to a surge in demand, with some customers now having to drive up to five hours to get to the nearest pharmacy for treatment.
Eli Lilly sold more than $5 billion worth of Mounjaro last year, according to the company. Last year’s revenue soared to $34 billion, an increase of 20% compared to 2022.
Zepbound, also made by Lilly and marketed as a weight loss drug while Munjaro is prescribed to treat diabetes, brought in $176 million in sales through Dec. 31, according to Lilly. .
Denmark’s Novo Nordisk, which makes Ozempic and Wigovy, also made billions of dollars selling weight loss drugs.
Ozempic had sales of about $13.9 billion last year, and Wegovy had sales of about $4.5 billion.
Two-thirds of Ozempic’s sales were US-based, while more than 90% of Wegovy’s sales went to US customers.
