How to Avoid a Shadowban on TikTok

You want as many people to see and interact with your videos on TikTok. Unfortunately, if TikTok shadowbans your account, you can continue to post, but your engagement and reach will be limited. This means you won’t be able to get your content on the For You page, and your followers might not even see your videos.

Because a shadowban will kill your account, you want to take steps to avoid it. Let’s look at what you can do to avoid getting shadowbanned on TikTok so you can continue growing your presence on the app. Also, find out what you can do to get your account in good standing if TikTok has already shadowbanned it. These tips will help you avoid making TikTok marketing mistakes while expanding your reach.

Don’t Post Inappropriate Content

You have the freedom to create various types of content on TikTok. However, TikTok will likely step in and shadowban your account if any content you upload is deemed inappropriate. You might think it won’t notice, and you’ll be able to squeak through. But between the algorithm and reports from users, that’s very hard to do.

Inappropriate content includes hate speech, violence, nudity, drugs, and fake news. Thus, make sure you avoid posting anything that runs afoul of the community guidelines.

Don’t Start Dangerous Trends and Challenges

TikTok’s community standards are also in place to keep users safe. Thus, avoid creating content that puts people in danger. For example, don’t start a challenge that features a dangerous stunt that could cause people to get hurt. No matter how much people love the challenge, TikTok will likely take it down and limit your reach.

If you need some help, find out how to create a successful TikTok challenge that follows the rules. Then you won’t have to worry about a shadowban.

Avoid Inauthentic Content

TikTok is a fantastic app for connecting with users. You can be yourself on the app and gain quite a following in the process. However, you cannot make inaccurate or misleading claims to boost your following or engagement levels. If you try to mislead people to get them to take action, you can expect a shadowban.

Don’t Use Copyrighted Content

TikTok gives users access to a ton of music they can use for their videos. However, some people decide to use copyrighted content instead, causing them to end up with shadowbans or restricted accounts. Make sure you have permission to use the content in your video. Check first if you’re unsure so TikTok doesn’t penalize your account.

Avoid Spammy Behavior

TikTok will shadowban or restrict your account if you engage in spammy behavior. First, don’t follow more than 50 accounts in a day, and limit yourself to following up to 30 accounts in an hour. Otherwise, TikTok might think you’re using a bot to spam users, causing it to restrict your account.

The same is true if you like a bunch of content at once. Take your time to view the videos before liking them. By stepping back and reviewing all content before engaging, TikTok will know that you’re a real person and not a bot.

Be Careful When Choosing a Service to Boost Engagement

Because TikTok takes a hard stance against bots, you might think you can’t purchase views, likes, and followers. You can do so, but you need to be careful when choosing a service. Select a company that provides real TikTok likes, followers, and views, so it’ll look like you’re growing engagement organically. On the other hand, if you use a bot for this, you won’t get to benefit from the increase in engagement. Instead, you risk being shadowbanned.

Avoid Arguments With TikTok Users

Unfortunately, TikTok users have a lot of power when it comes to reporting content. Many use bots to mass report content they want to have taken down, resulting in account restrictions and shadowbans. While you can’t shut down the bots, you can stay off people’s radar by avoiding conflict on the app. You don’t want to give people a reason to turn their mass reporting bots on you, so don’t engage with people who want to argue. You can also remove hateful or dangerous comments from your posts to limit the chance of getting into an argument.

What to Do If Your Account Has Been Shadowbanned

A shadowban or account restriction can last for up to a month or even longer in some cases. While some people wait until TikTok releases the ban, others take quick action to limit the time their accounts are restricted. Let’s look at some tips you can follow to help restore your TikTok account.

✓ Delete the Problematic Content

Do you know why your account was shadowbanned? If so, you can go back to your account and delete the debatable content. Once it’s gone, TikTok will be more likely to put your account back in good standing.

✓ Go Back and Address Other Content

Your account might get shadowbanned for a single piece of inappropriate content, even if your account is full of it. First, review the community guidelines and then look for violations in your account. Fix the problems quickly so you can get your account back in good standing. Otherwise, TikTok might conduct a full review and ban your account permanently.

✓ Appeal the Decision

Was your account shadowbanned without a good reason? Unfortunately, this tends to happen, and it’s a massive headache for brands and creators. You have the option to appeal the decision, though.

First, click on the notification that TikTok sent you. Then tap the appeal command and follow the instructions. TikTok will review your appeal and get back to you shortly.

Stay in Good Standing With TikTok

Keep these tips in mind to stay in good standing with TikTok. Remember that you can also buy real TikTok views, likes, and followers without violating the guidelines. Then you can build high engagement levels and reach more people on the app. This, combined with following the community guidelines, will help you maintain a presence and get the results you want on TikTok.