Those searching for “cute winter boots” on TikTok at the moment might be a little confused. A recent movement of the same name has nothing to do with footwear. It’s a code phrase being used to discuss resistance to President Trump and his immigration policies while skirting censorship or bans on the platform.
Many users have posted videos talking about their “cute winter boots” but showing warnings or slides of information to their viewers at the same time. Some posts see users discuss details about protests or recent developments, using a notebook or pieces of paper. Meanwhile, the sound over the video is unrelated or uses trending audio in order to avoid videos being flagged.
When TikTok users mention “cute winter boots” protecting people from “ice,” they’re referencing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Nearly 1,000 immigration arrests were carried out on Sunday as Trump’s promise of mass deportations began. ICE officials have since been directed by Trump officials to up the number of people they arrest, from a few hundred per day to at least 1,200 to 1,500.
Coded language is commonplace on social media
“Cute winter boots” is one example of “algospeak,” a system of coded language designed to bypass algorithmic filters and spread warnings and information about such deportations.
Another example is the phrase “Senator, I’m Singaporean,” a quote ">from TikTok CEO Shou Chew’s response to Senator Tom Cotton during a congressional hearing, where Cotton’s question implied that Chew was a Chinese government agent. Now, TikTok users frequently leave this phrase in comment sections to subtly warn others about potentially sensitive or flagged content in the videos.
The “cute winter boots” trend also exploits the platform’s algorithm, which favors product-focused content, to maximize visibility. Creators often pair their videos with unrelated but highly searchable pop-culture keywords, such as “Taylor Swift” and “Sabrina Carpenter,” to further boost their reach. Some of these videos also link to TikTok Shop, but instead of boots, they offer educational items like Night by Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust memoir, or gear useful for protests, such as protective equipment.
For those actually on the hunt for cute winter boots, you’re better off searching elsewhere at the moment.
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