TikTok is a popular social media platform where users can create and share short videos. With over 1 billion monthly active users, TikTok has a massive global audience. While the app provides entertainment and creative outlets for many, some users misuse the platform in ways that violate TikTok’s community guidelines.
One way TikTok tries to maintain a safe environment is by allowing users to report accounts that exhibit harmful behavior. Reporting leads to content removal and account suspension or deletion in serious cases. However, the process of filing a report is not always straightforward.
This article will explain why you may need to report a TikTok account, walk through how to properly file a report, provide tips on what information to include, outline what happens after submitting a report, and cover other related topics. With the right approach, reporting can be an effective method for improving safety and removing policy-breaking accounts from TikTok.
Why You Might Want to Report an Account
There are several reasons you may need to report a TikTok account. Some of the most common include:
Harassment and bullying: If a user is repeatedly harassing or bullying you or someone else in comments, messages, or posts, you should report their behavior. This includes making threats, using slurs, or trying to humiliate or embarrass others. According to an article , bullying is a major issue on TikTok that often goes unchecked.
Hate speech: Accounts promoting hate speech, racism, sexism, homophobia, or other forms of discrimination should be reported. TikTok does not allow hate speech on its platform.
Dangerous challenges: Certain viral challenges on TikTok can encourage dangerous or illegal behavior. For example, challenges promoting self-harm, drug use, vandalism, or other risky activities. Reporting these challenges can help get them taken down before they spread further. An article lists some of the most concerning viral challenges right now.
Sexual content: While some mature content is allowed on TikTok, explicitly sexual content is against community guidelines. If an account is posting overtly sexual videos or comments, it’s best to report them.
Impersonation: Users pretending to be someone else, whether a celebrity, influencer, or even someone you know, should be reported for impersonation. This helps combat misinformation.
Spam: Accounts repeatedly posting unrelated or nonsense content to gain views can be reported as spam. This helps improve the overall TikTok experience.
How to File a Report
If you see an account that you want to report on TikTok, the easiest way is to use the in-app reporting feature. Here’s how to report an account in the TikTok app:
- Go to the profile page of the account you want to report. Tap the three dots in the top right corner.
- Select “Report” from the menu.
- Choose a reason for reporting the account such as “Nudity or sexual activity”, “Hateful ideologies”, “Violent extremism”, etc.
- Add any additional details in the text box.
- Tap “Submit” to file the report.
You’ll get a confirmation that your report was submitted. TikTok’s content moderation team will review the account based on your report. Reporting in-app is the quickest way to bring concerning accounts to TikTok’s attention.
You can also email TikTok directly to report an account. Send your report to [email protected]. In your email, provide the username of the account and details on why you are reporting it. The TikTok support team will investigate further.
What Information to Include
When filing a report against a TikTok account, you should provide as much relevant information as possible to support your claim. Here are some key details to include:
- Account name – Provide the exact @username of the account you are reporting.
- URLs of violating content – Include links directly to any videos, comments, messages, or other content that violates TikTok’s Community Guidelines.
- Explanation – Give a clear explanation of how the account or specific content violates TikTok’s policies. Be as detailed as possible.
Providing these key details will help TikTok’s moderation team effectively investigate and take appropriate action against any policy-breaking accounts. Only flag content that clearly violates established guidelines, and avoid false or frivolous reporting.
What Happens After You Report
After you submit a report against a TikTok account, the content goes through a review process by TikTok’s moderation team. They will evaluate if the reported content or account violates TikTok’s Community Guidelines.
If the moderators determine the account is in violation, TikTok may take one or more of the following enforcement actions:
- Remove the violating content
- Temporarily restrict the account from posting, commenting, or other actions
- Permanently suspend the account from TikTok
According to TikTok’s support page, accounts may be permanently suspended if they repeatedly post content that violates policies or intentionally try to avoid restrictions. Suspended accounts cannot be reactivated.
If you believe your account was wrongfully suspended, you can submit an appeal through TikTok’s support options. However, TikTok states that suspension appeals are only granted in very limited situations.
Reporting for Law Enforcement
Law enforcement agencies can request information or account removal from TikTok by submitting a request through the online law enforcement portal. According to TikTok’s Law Enforcement Guidelines, requests should come from an official law enforcement email address and include:
- The name of the requesting officer and law enforcement agency
- Relevant case numbers or identifiers
- Justification for the request and explanation of the emergency if requesting expedited processing
TikTok requires a subpoena, court order, or search warrant to provide private user account information. For requests related to imminent harm, TikTok may provide limited account information based on a law enforcement official’s written certification of an emergency. TikTok aims to respond to emergency requests within 24 hours.
According to TikTok’s latest transparency report, the platform received 504 requests for user information from US law enforcement agencies in the first half of 2022. TikTok only produced data for 56% of these requests.
Appealing Wrongful Suspensions
If you believe your TikTok account was wrongly suspended, you can appeal the suspension to have your account reinstated. According to TikTok’s Help Center article on account safety, “If you believe your account was banned incorrectly, let us know by submitting an appeal.”
To submit an appeal, follow these steps:
- Open the notification email or in-app notification about your suspension.
- Tap “Appeal” in the email or notification.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to submit an appeal form explaining why you believe the suspension was a mistake.
According to TikTok’s help article on account suspensions, you can also appeal a suspension by creating a ticket via TikTok’s Customer Support page or using the Appeal option under your account’s Profile tab. Make sure to provide details on why you think the suspension was unwarranted.
Once you’ve submitted your appeal, TikTok’s moderation team will review your account and the details of your suspension. It may take some time to get a response. Be patient, and avoid submitting multiple appeals for the same suspension as that can slow down the review process.
If your appeal is rejected and you still believe the suspension was a mistake, you can submit another appeal with additional information and context to support your case. TikTok recommends waiting at least 3 days before submitting another appeal.
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Reporting in Other Languages
TikTok supports filing reports in various languages besides English. According to their newsroom announcement, TikTok now provides auto-translations and captions for videos in English, Portuguese, German, Indonesian, Italian, Korean, Mandarin, and more https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/auto-translations-and-captions. This likely means you can file reports in those languages as well.
To change your TikTok interface and preferences to another language, tap your profile icon, go to settings, and select the “Language” option. From there you can choose your desired language https://support.tiktok.com/en/account-and-privacy/account-information/changing-language-preferences. Once set, you should then be able to file reports in that language.
The full list of languages currently supported by TikTok’s auto-translation feature includes: English, Arabic, Vietnamese, Thai, Turkish, Spanish, Portuguese, Malay, Korean, Japanese, Italian, German, French, Chinese (Mandarin), Bahasa Indonesia, Hindi, Bangla, Russian.
Other Ways to Increase Safety
In addition to reporting problematic accounts, there are other tools on TikTok that can help increase safety and control over your experience:
- Blocking accounts prevents a user from viewing your content or interacting with you. To block an account, go to their profile and tap the three dots in the upper right corner. Select “Block” to block that user.
- Filters allow you to limit the content shown in your feed. Enable “Restricted Mode” under Settings > Digital Wellbeing to limit mature or inappropriate content.
- Parental controls like Family Pairing allow parents to customize settings and restrictions for teens under 18. Features include limiting screen time, restricting direct messages, and restricting certain content. See this TikTok news article for more details.
Using tools like these can create a safer, more personalized TikTok experience for you and your family.
Conclusion
Reporting harmful, unsafe, or inappropriate accounts is an important way to increase safety on TikTok. The key steps for reporting an account are:
- Tap the share arrow on the account’s profile page.
- Tap “Report” and select the reason for reporting.
- Provide additional details about why you’re reporting the account.
- Submit the report. TikTok will investigate and take appropriate action.
TikTok aims to respond quickly to all reports and remove accounts that violate community guidelines. You can appeal if you believe your account was wrongfully suspended. For urgent issues, you can contact law enforcement.
By taking the time to report concerning accounts, you help keep TikTok fun and safe for everyone. If you see something, say something by filing a report.
