TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion monthly active users. However, some users suddenly find themselves banned from the platform, either temporarily or permanently. Getting banned from TikTok means losing access to an account and being unable to create new accounts. This raises important questions around how and why TikTok bans accounts, how bans are enforced, whether there are ways to get around bans, and what users can do if they feel they have been banned unfairly.
In this article, we will explore how TikTok’s banning system works. We will look at the different types of bans TikTok uses, what kinds of behavior can lead to bans, how users can appeal bans, and whether there are any workarounds that allow banned users to keep using TikTok. The goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of TikTok account bans so users know what to avoid, as well as what to do if they find themselves banned.
TikTok’s Terms of Service
TikTok’s Terms of Service outline the rules and policies that users must follow when using the platform. The Terms state that TikTok can terminate or suspend your account if you violate the Terms, Community Guidelines, or other TikTok policies. The Terms also note that TikTok reserves the right to remove accounts “for any reason or no reason.”
Some specific violations that could result in account termination or suspension include:
- Posting illegal, illicit, or inappropriate content
- Impersonating others or providing false information
- Infringing on intellectual property rights
- Violating others’ privacy
- Spamming, scamming, or spreading malware
The Terms make it clear that users are solely responsible for their account activity and compliance with TikTok’s rules. Violating the Terms can lead to warnings, account suspension, or permanent ban depending on the severity of the violation.
Types of Bans on TikTok
TikTok utilizes different types of bans to enforce their community guidelines and terms of service. The main categories of bans include:
Temporary Ban
A temporary ban restricts your ability to post, comment, or interact on TikTok for a set period of time, usually ranging from 1-30 days. Temporary bans are intended to be educational and give you a chance to modify your behavior before being allowed to resume using your account (Source).
Permanent Ban
A permanent ban completely disables your account and prevents you from accessing or creating new accounts from that device. Permanent bans are applied for severe or repeated violations (Source).
Device Ban
A device ban blocks your specific phone or other device from accessing TikTok. You can still use your account on other devices. Device bans aim to prevent continuous abuse from a single source.
Shadowban
A shadowban is not an official ban, but it restricts your account’s visibility and reach. Your profile and videos will not show up in searches or recommendations. Shadowbans are meant to limit potentially abusive accounts.
Underage Ban
TikTok bans any accounts belonging to children under age 13. Proof of age may be required to lift an underage ban.
How Bans are Enforced
TikTok uses various technical methods to enforce bans on accounts that violate their community guidelines or terms of service. Some of the main methods include:
Device banning – TikTok can ban a user’s device from accessing the platform by blocking the device ID. This makes it difficult for banned users to create new accounts from the same device.
IP address banning – TikTok may block a user’s IP address if they detect repeated violations from the same address. This prevents access from that IP.
Account blocking – Banned accounts are blocked from accessing TikTok. If a user tries to log in, they will see a message that the account is suspended.
Shadowbanning – TikTok may also shadowban accounts, which limits their discoverability and reach without notifying the user. Their content and profile will not show up in searches or recommendations.
Automated moderation – TikTok uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to proactively detect policy violations and automatically remove content or disable accounts as needed.
Manual reviews – TikTok has a team of human moderators who review reported content and accounts to determine if they should be banned.
According to TikTok’s terms of service, the company can take any technical measure to enforce its rules, including blocking accounts, content or geographic areas from accessing the platform.[1]
Circumventing Bans
Some users who get banned on TikTok may attempt to circumvent the ban by creating a new account. According to TikTok’s Terms of Service, if an account gets banned, the user cannot simply create a new account to continue using the platform. However, some users try to get around this by using different device IDs, email addresses, phone numbers, VPNs, etc. to disguise their identity when creating a new account.
For example, someone who gets banned on their iPhone could try creating a new account on an Android device with a different Google Play ID. Or they may use a new email address or phone number not associated with their previous banned account. Some try using VPNs to mask their IP address and location when signing up for a new account after a ban.
However, according to TikTok, their systems are designed to detect most ban evasion attempts. If they identify a new account as attempting to evade an old ban, the new account can be banned as well. Still, some users persist in trying to find creative ways to get back on the platform after a ban.
Consequences of Ban Evasion
TikTok does not take kindly to users trying to circumvent bans by creating new accounts. If you get caught evading a ban, TikTok will likely extend your ban or make it permanent. According to TikTok’s Terms of Service, the company “may suspend or terminate your account if you create serial or alternate accounts” after receiving a ban.
The consequences depend on the severity of the original violation that resulted in a ban. For minor infractions like isolated incidents of posting inappropriate content, TikTok may just delete the new accounts and uphold the original temporary ban. But for more serious violations like spamming, harassment, or dangerous challenges and hoaxes, TikTok is more likely to permanently ban all associated accounts.
TikTok uses various detection methods to identify ban evaders, like tracking IP addresses, device IDs, and other signals. Some users try avoiding detection by using VPNs or getting new devices, but TikTok still manages to catch most attempts at creating new accounts. There is no clear appeal process for being caught evading a ban, so getting hit with an extended or permanent ban is difficult to overturn.
In short, it’s not advisable to try circumventing a ban on TikTok. Accept the initial ban, learn from any mistakes, and make a new account only after the suspension period passes to avoid facing harsher consequences.
Appealing Bans
If you believe your TikTok account was banned incorrectly, you can appeal the ban through the app. Here are the steps to appeal a ban:
- Open the notification about your banned account in the TikTok app.
- Tap “Appeal” at the top of the notification.
- Follow the instructions to submit an appeal form explaining why you believe the ban was a mistake.
- TikTok will review your appeal and notify you if the ban has been reversed or will remain in effect.
According to TikTok’s support site, the company reviews all appeals but does not share specific statistics on success rates. Anecdotal reports from users suggest appeal success rates may depend on the severity and type of ban.
For instance, users seem to have better luck appealing temporary or first-time bans compared to permanent bans. Provide polite and honest explanations in your appeal to have the best chance of getting your account reinstated.
Notable Ban Controversies
There have been several controversial or questionable bans on TikTok that have made headlines. In March 2023, TikTok banned the account of a 17-year-old girl after she posted videos criticizing China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims. The ban prompted accusations of censorship and led to the hashtag #BarTikTokFromTheUS trending on Twitter (source).
Other notable bans have involved LGBTQ creators and content. In 2019, TikTok suppressed posts by LGBTQ users by marking them as “violating community guidelines” but provided no further explanation. This led to allegations that TikTok was discriminating against LGBTQ people. The company later apologized and said the bans were due to “human error” (source).
There have also been instances of popular TikTok stars being mysteriously banned from the platform with no explanation given. These high-profile bans have fueled suspicions that TikTok selectively applies its rules to ban accounts expressing certain views or representing marginalized groups.
Tips to Avoid Bans
Here are some tips to help avoid common ban triggers on TikTok:
Avoid sharing violent, graphic, or disturbing content. This includes videos depicting accidents, injuries, or abuse. TikTok prohibits content that is excessively gruesome or shocking (TikTok Community Guidelines).
Never threaten or harass other users in your videos, captions, comments or messages. Bullying, harassment, and threatening behavior often result in bans (Spikerz).
Don’t promote self-harm or dangerous challenges. Videos encouraging suicide, eating disorders, or dangerous stunts violate TikTok’s policies.
Avoid nudity, sexually explicit content, or illegal activities. TikTok prohibits pornography, solicitation, and content related to drugs, violence, or criminal behavior.
Don’t try to artificially increase views, likes, comments, or followers using bots, fake accounts, or other deception. TikTok cracks down on artificial engagement tactics.
Post original content and respect copyright. Plagiarized or copied content often triggers copyright strikes and account suspensions.
Carefully review content before posting. If you have any doubts about whether a video might violate policies, it’s safer to not post it.
Conclusion
In summary, while TikTok does have the ability to ban users from creating new accounts, the enforcement of such bans is imperfect. TikTok relies largely on device identifiers, IP addresses, and other signals to detect ban evasion, but savvy users can find ways around these restrictions. However, circumventing a ban comes with risks – if caught, TikTok may suspend your device or IP address completely. The platform is also constantly updating its ban evasion detection methods.
So in answer to the main question “Can TikTok ban you from making new accounts?”, the answer is yes, they can and do ban users in this way. But the process is not always foolproof. For most users, it’s better to follow TikTok’s rules and avoid risking a permanent device ban. If you believe you have been banned unfairly, you can appeal the ban through TikTok’s appeal process.
