What is a TikTok shadowban? Plus 5 ways to get unbanned
What is a shadowban and how is it related to TikTok?
Let’s face it – the Internet can be a dramatic place. It makes sense that there is such a buzzword as “shadowban”. Of course, it probably doesn’t help that no one really knows if shadowbans are real, but better safe than sorry, right?
We may not know if shadowbans are real, but we do know that something is going on. Let’s put on our tinfoil hats and figure it out together. Here is a handy guide to shadowbans and their application on TikTok.
What is a shadowban on TikTok?
In general, a shadowban is when a user disconnects or is blocked from a social network (or forum) without notice.
A TikTok shadowban is the informal name for what happens when TikTok temporarily limits an account’s visibility. When this happens, the user’s videos will no longer appear on the TikTok “For You”(also known as #FYP) page. Their content will also no longer appear in the hashtag section of the app.
Some people report that their posts tend to be harder to find when they are shadowbanned. They also claim they stop getting likes and comments on posts that used to be helpful. While there are some wacky conspiracy theories, there’s no denying that something is going on.
Like their fellow social media contemporaries, TikTok doesn’t actually use the term “shadowban”in any of their official documents. They also never fully acknowledged that they were participating in the practice. But they have said enough to suggest that they do restrict certain users at certain times.
The closest we can find to a shadowban statement comes from TikTok’s own website:
“We will temporarily or permanently ban accounts and/or users who are involved in serious or repeated violations of the platform [our community guidelines].”
@coach.stone Reply to @jorgeallende0 this will get you “unshadowbanned” lol. #tiktokforcreators #shadowbanned #shadowbannedtiktok #tiktoktips #tiktokalgorithm
How to get a shadowban on TikTok?
While they won’t admit it so verbosely, it’s undeniable that TikTok will block or partially block content from certain accounts. And there are several reasons why someone might get shadowbanned. Here are some of the more famous ones:
You are violating the TikTok Community Guidelines.
This is the most obvious reason for a shadowban, but also the easiest to avoid. Check out the TikTok Community Guidelines to make sure you’re not breaking any rules.
Of course, this is a long list, but there are a few simple things to avoid. These include violence, nudity, drugs, hate speech, copyrighted music or footage from outside the app, and misinformation (aka fake news).
Of course, some of these themes are more gray than others. (Try talking about “fake news”at Thanksgiving dinner, for example, and you’ll probably hear a lot of opinions on the subject.) Still, it’s best to play it safe.
You are acting like a spammer
Look, some of us may have better personalities than others, but if you post like a bot, you will be treated the same. But seriously, spamming is a surefire way to limit your TikTok posts.
We understand that you may be excited about your new account or want to start making connections. But if you’re following other accounts in bulk or flooding your feed with new videos, there’s a good chance you’ll end up on some kind of list.
Also, there are much better ways to expand your TikTok account.
You got shadowbanned by accident
This is where things get complicated — and political. TikTok’s rules are applied through an algorithm, and sometimes censors may mistakenly tag certain topics or pieces of content.
Some critics even claimed that TikTok took sides or deliberately silenced the voices of activists and protesters. For example, at the height of the 2020 George Floyd protests, many Black Lives Matter activists claimed that their posts did not get 0 views if they contained the hashtags #BlackLivesMatter or #GeorgeFloyd.
TikTok responded to these protests with a lengthy statement. They blamed the glitch on the confusion and vowed to do more to promote diversity on the platform.
Black Lives Matter isn’t the only movement that has accused TikTok of a shadowban. However, a TikTok spokesperson told Refinery29 that they are quick to act when their algorithms flag content that doesn’t break any rules.
“Our community of creators is vibrant and diverse, and everything we do on TikTok is about giving people a safe space to express their ideas and creativity, whoever they are,” the spokesperson said. “We are open about the fact that we do not always make the right decisions, so we continue to invest heavily in our security operations.”
@herodw
How to know if you are shadowbanned
There’s a reason it’s called a shadowban – you’ll be in the dark about what’s going on. You won’t get a message from TikTok’s secret mod board to let you know you’ve been restricted.
Of course, there is a chance that your content has become worse (and, jokes aside, this really needs to be taken into account). But there are also a few things to watch out for if you suspect you’ve been shadowbanned:
• Numbers are dropping rapidly. If you’ve been enjoying a trend of likes, views, and shares on your posted content that has suddenly stopped, you may have fallen under a dreaded shadowban.
• Low loading. It may not be your Wi-Fi. If your videos say “under review”or “in progress”for an abnormal amount of time, you might be overwhelmed.
• No longer for you. The For You page is the beating heart of TikTok. This is also where your content should appear if things are going well. Ask a friend who usually sees your posts in the FYP cross-reference to check if they are gone.
@kentonmartin_
How long will the TikTok shadowban last?
How can you measure the length of something that may not be? And indeed, how to measure the unknowable?
This is getting very philosophical, but the answer is probably 14 days.
If you do nothing, your shadowban will probably last about two weeks. Some users report that shadowbans only last 24 hours, while others suggest up to a month. The general consensus, however, is 14 days.
How to get out of a shadowban on TikTok: 5 tips
No, you don’t have to learn the secret handshake or sacrifice an animal to the lords of the algorithms.
In fact, a few simple steps can help keep your TikTok account in the truest and narrowest sense.
1. Remove flagged content
If you suspect a ban, review your posts to determine who broke the rules. Then, if you’ve identified a likely culprit, remove it and wait for the algorithm to forgive you.
2. Reinstall the app
If you think you’ve successfully removed the offending post and want to check it out, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app on your device. Perhaps you just needed to clear the cache or update the app to get it working again.
3. Be normal
This is just good life advice, but it also applies to TikTok. If you act like a bot, TikTok moderators will find you. So once your temporary timeout is over, you should take it easy with the next spree and 100 post dumps per day.
Don’t spam. Just chill.
4. Follow the community guidelines
Again, it’s worth reiterating – community rules exist for a reason. It’s not just the posting of inappropriate content that gets censors confused.
Tempted to hardcode songs into your TikTok posts because you can’t find them on the app? This is a great reason to get flagged for copyright infringement. Read the set of rules to know how to follow them.
5. Check your analytics
Following your analytics is a great way to protect your posts from the watchful eye of TikTok’s shadow Illuminati (okay, maybe I’m being overly dramatic). You can act quickly if you notice that you have stopped receiving calls from the For You page.
However, if you really want to monitor the performance of your TikTok account, we recommend going beyond built-in analytics with a third-party social media management tool.
From one intuitive control panel, you can easily schedule TikTok, view and reply to comments, and measure your success on the platform. Our TikTok scheduler will even recommend the best time to post your content for maximum engagement (unique to your account).
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