Alex Cooper, host of the "Call Her Daddy" podcast, deleted the TikTok app from her phone due to platform sexism [1].
Cooper's departure from the app highlights growing tensions between high-profile female creators and the algorithmic nature of social media platforms. As a leading voice in the podcasting space, her public rejection of the app signals a broader critique of how digital spaces can foster conflict between women.
Cooper shared the decision during an episode of her podcast recorded with Tana Mongeau [2]. She said she deleted TikTok after getting tired of seeing people constantly "pit women against women" [2]. This decision followed a period of public tension between Cooper and TikTok influencer Alix Earle.
Cooper had publicly called out Earle in mid-April 2024 [1]. The decision to remove the app occurred about one month [1] after that public confrontation. Cooper said, "I'm never watching again" [3].
When discussing the systemic issues on the platform, Cooper said, "Get specific" [1], referring to the specific ways the environment becomes toxic for women. While some reports suggest other controversies may have influenced her decision, Cooper attributed the move to the platform's tendency to create division among women [1, 2].
Cooper's exit comes after several weeks [1] of navigating the fallout from her interactions with other creators. By removing the app, she has distanced herself from the immediate cycle of short-form video commentary and the associated social pressures.
“"I deleted TikTok after getting tired of seeing people constantly 'pit women against women'."”
This move reflects a growing trend of 'digital detoxing' among top-tier influencers who find that the engagement-driven algorithms of platforms like TikTok often reward conflict and gender-based rivalry. By publicly framing her exit as a response to sexism, Cooper is leveraging her platform to critique the social architecture of short-form media.
