Table of Contents
- What is a TikTok Shadow Ban?
- How Do You Get Shadow Banned?
- How Can Users Tell If They’ve Been Shadow Banned?
- How Long Does It Last?
- What Can I Do To Get Rid Of It?
What is a TikTok Shadow Ban?
This is when the app partially or fully blocks the visibility of an account for violating community guidelines.
How Do You Get Shadow Banned?
A TikTok shadow ban comes about after a user on the app has violated the community gudelnes in one way or another.
Here are some reasons why you could be shadow banned on TikTok:
Posting adult content
Adult content, including nudity, pornography, or anything sexually explicit, is strictly prohibited under TikTok’s community guidelines. Keep your content PG to stay on the For You page.
Bullying or harassment
TikTok promotes inclusivity and “individual expression without fear of abuse,” so any form of bullying or harassment is not tolerated. This is especially important as social media platforms prioritize community wellness. If TikTok can monitor this, so can everyone else.
Copyright infringement
TikTok has a zero-tolerance policy for sharing copyrighted content without permission. Be original, and you’ll gain more followers.
By accident
Sometimes, TikTok shadow bans occur by accident due to mass automated moderation. Critics have claimed that TikTok’s algorithm has unfairly targeted activists or protestors. During the George Floyd movement in 2020, users reported receiving zero views on posts with hashtags like #BlackLivesMatter or #GeorgeFloyd. TikTok attributed this to a glitch and has since worked to prevent it from happening again.
How Can Users Tell If They’ve Been Shadow Banned?
Unfortunately, users are not notified when they are shadow banned on TikTok, so many restrictions go unnoticed.
Here are some key indicators that you may be shadow banned:
- Content is not visible on the FYP(For You page) or in search results
- Videos won’t upload and show “under review” or “processing” instead
- Rapd decrease in engagement
If you experience all three, you may have a TikTok shadow ban.
How Long Does It Last?
Most creators say a shadow ban typically lasts for 2 weeks, but some have reported it lasting from 24 hours to up to a month.
What Can I Do To Get Rid Of It?
Delete flagged content
When you suspect a ban, comb through your posts to find the offender. Once found, remove it and wait for the algorithm to forgive you.
Reinstall the app
Once you’ve done the above, delete the app and reinstall it to check it’s officially been deleted.
Avoid spam-like behavior
A sudden decrease in engagement could lead you to thinking that more posts = getting that engagement back.
Instead, the algorithm will only shadow ban you again for spamming content.
4. Follow community guidelines
Community guidelines are there for a reason. This will allow you to continue your journey as a creator on TikTok without losing sleep at night.
