Debate continues over Taylor Lorenz’s article: ‘Doxxing’ or reporting?

An article by Washington Post internet culture reporter Taylor Lorenz has led to a debate over ethics in reporting. Lorenz wrote about the origins of the viral conservative Twitter account “Libs of TikTok,” whose postings, she noted, “morphed into a social media phenomenon, spreading anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment and shaping public discourse.” Some have accused Lorenz of “doxxing” the account’s creator. The term “doxxing” refers to the act of posting sensitive, personal information online in order to encourage harassment.

The “Libs of TikTok” account has circulated widely in conservative media in recent weeks and has influenced prominent politicians and Republican operatives, according to the Washington Post article.

Critics took issue with how Lorenz went about some of her reporting, including going to the account creator’s home in order to verify their identity. The Washington Post is standing behind Lorenz after the story sparked pushback from supporters of the Twitter account, which has more than 900,000 followers.

“Taylor Lorenz is a diligent and accomplished journalist whose reporting methods comport entirely with The Washington Post’s professional standards,” Cameron Barr, senior managing editor at the Post said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that the report “did not publish or link to any details about [the creator’s] personal life.”

Lorenz’s story, “Meet the woman behind Libs of TikTok, secretly fueling the right’s outrage machine“, detailed how a woman named Chaya Raichik ran the account, that, “reposts a steady stream of TikTok videos and social media posts, primarily from LGBTQ+ people, often including incendiary framing designed to generate outrage. Videos shared from the account quickly find their way to the most influential names in right-wing media. The account has emerged as a powerful force on the Internet, shaping right-wing media, impacting anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and influencing millions by posting viral videos aimed at inciting outrage among the right.”