What is a shadowban on TikTok?
A shadowban on TikTok refers to when your account becomes restricted by TikTok’s moderation system without you being notified. Your videos, likes, comments, and overall engagement can plummet. Essentially you are “shadowbanned” from the full TikTok experience.
When shadowbanned, your content has its reach and distribution limited by TikTok’s algorithms. Your videos may not show up in hashtags or the “For You” page that surfaces content to new viewers. You can still post, but your account activities are drastically minimized.
There are a few potential reasons a shadowban may occur, according to Hootsuite:
- Violating community guidelines around inappropriate content
- Spamming tactics like repeatedly posting the exact same comment
- Using banned hashtags or captions
- Having multiple accounts connected to the same device
A shadowban essentially throttles your account without suspension. You can appeal it or modify your behavior to recover over time in most cases.
How to tell if you are shadowbanned
There are several signs that may indicate your TikTok account has been shadowbanned:
- Sudden drop in views, likes, and comments on your videos – According to Later.com, if your engagement suddenly plummets, it’s a telltale sign of a shadowban (1).
- Followers aren’t seeing your content – Check with some of your regular viewers to see if your new videos are showing up on their feed. If not, you may be shadowbanned (2).
- Hashtags aren’t working – Use TikTok’s analytics to see if hashtags are still directing traffic. A shadowban means hashtags have stopped working for your account (3).
- Videos stuck with low view counts – Shadowbanned accounts often have videos stall at very low view counts compared to normal (1).
- You can’t find yourself when searching – Search for your username on TikTok. If your account doesn’t show up in search results, a shadowban may be in effect (2).
Checking for these indicators is the best way to identify if your account has been shadowbanned by TikTok’s moderation algorithms.
Why you might be shadowbanned
There are a few common reasons why TikTok may shadowban an account:
Violating community guidelines – If your content goes against TikTok’s community guidelines, such as posting violent, dangerous, illegal, or sexually suggestive content, you may get shadowbanned. Make sure your posts follow the platform’s rules.
Spammy behavior – Repeatedly posting duplicate or similar content in a spammy way can trigger a shadowban. Try to keep your posting behavior natural and varied.
Inappropriate hashtags – Using banned hashtags or too many unrelated hashtags is seen as hashtag abuse and can lead to shadowbanning. Research hashtags before using them and only use relevant tags.
Suspicious account activity – Things like using third-party apps or services to artificially boost engagement may cause TikTok to shadowban you. Avoid anything that seems like manipulation.
Multiple account abuse – Operating multiple accounts in violation of TikTok’s Terms of Service, such as mass commenting or following/unfollowing, can result in shadowbanning.
According to this source, inappropriate profile photo or bio content can also contribute to shadowbans. Keep your profile info appropriate.
Appealing a shadowban
If you believe your TikTok account has been incorrectly shadowbanned, you can appeal to have the restriction removed. According to TikTok’s support page, you can appeal a shadowban by:
- Going to your profile page and tapping the three dots in the top right corner
- Selecting “Report a problem”
- Choosing “Appeal” and filling out the form with details on why you think your account was incorrectly shadowbanned
In the appeal, clearly explain why you believe the shadowban was a mistake. Provide any context around the content that was flagged or account activity prior to the shadowban. According to SocialChamp, it also helps to apologize for any content that may have violated the guidelines, and promise to abide by the community standards going forward.
Appeals are reviewed by TikTok’s content moderation team. If they agree the shadowban was unwarranted, your account should be restored to normal. You’ll be notified of the results within 7 days. Success isn’t guaranteed, but politeness and patience in the appeal process can improve your chances.
Preventing future shadowbans
The best way to avoid future shadowbans on TikTok is to be proactive about following community guidelines and avoiding behaviors that could trigger restrictions. Here are some tips:
- Carefully review content before posting to ensure it does not violate any of TikTok’s policies around nudity, hate speech, harassment, dangerous acts, illegal activities, regulated goods, and more. Refer to the TikTok Community Guidelines for specifics.
- Immediately remove any content that receives a violation notice or is flagged as inappropriate. Do not re-post it.
- Avoid spammy behaviors like repeatedly posting the exact same content, using irrelevant hashtags, or flooding comments. TikTok aims to provide a quality user experience.
- Manage multiple accounts ethically and transparently. Do not use duplicate accounts to artificially inflate popularity.
- Work collaboratively with TikTok if issues arise. Ask clarifying questions and explain any misunderstandings.
While not a guarantee, following the platform guidelines closely and staying in communication with TikTok are your best defenses against shadowbans.
Using hashtags and captions
Using too many hashtags or irrelevant hashtags can trigger TikTok’s spam filters and lead to a shadowban (https://megadigital.ai/en/blog/tiktok-shadowban/). Here are some tips for proper hashtag and caption use to avoid shadowbans:
Limit hashtags to 2-3 max per caption. Using a large number of hashtags looks spammy to TikTok’s filters.
Only use relevant hashtags to your video’s specific content. Generic or unrelated hashtags may get flagged.
Don’t use banned or blocked hashtags like #FYP. TikTok considers these spam.
Avoid keyword stuffing in your captions. Keep language natural.
Don’t copy and paste the same captions across videos. Write custom captions tailored to each video.
Use a mix of specific and broader hashtags so your content appears in both niche and general feeds.
Check that hashtags are spelled correctly to avoid them being marked irrelevant.
Avoid using all caps in hashtags or captions. This looks spammy.
By optimizing hashtag and caption strategies carefully, you can avoid triggering automated shadowban filters on TikTok.
Managing multiple accounts
One of the leading causes of shadowbans on TikTok is managing multiple accounts improperly or suspiciously. TikTok’s algorithm is designed to detect when a single user is operating multiple accounts, especially if those accounts are engaged in coordinated or duplicative behavior. Per this Reddit thread, the best practices for managing multiple TikTok accounts and avoiding shadowbans are:
- Use separate email addresses for each account
- Avoid commenting or engaging with your other accounts
- Post original content on each account with distinct themes/topics
- Stagger posting schedules across accounts throughout the day
- Avoid rapid fire posting/commenting or bot-like behavior
- Use different devices and IP addresses when possible for each account
As explained in this article, TikTok can detect when multiple accounts are being run from the same IP address. To avoid triggering TikTok’s shadowban algorithm, it’s important to make each account look like a unique, legitimate user. With proper management, having multiple TikTok accounts can be maintained successfully.
Posting frequency and timing
When it comes to posting on TikTok, using the right frequency and timing is key to avoiding any penalties like a shadowban. The ideal posting frequency on TikTok tends to be 1-5 times per day. Posting more than 5 times a day could trigger TikTok’s spam detection and result in your account being shadowbanned (source).
It’s generally recommended to post no more than a few times within an hour to avoid being flagged as spam. You’ll want to space out your posts throughout the day rather than batch posting all at once (source).
In terms of timing, the peak hours for engagement on TikTok are early mornings, evenings, and weekends when more users are likely to be on the app. Posting during low-traffic times like late at night could make your content less discoverable. Analyze when your target audience is most active on TikTok and aim to post around those high-traffic times.
Using a TikTok analytics or scheduling tool can help you determine the best times to post based on your audience and posting habits. Just be sure not to overdo it with posting frequency as that could backfire and lead to your account being shadowbanned.
Working with TikTok Support
If you believe your account has been incorrectly shadowbanned, you can reach out to TikTok support for assistance. The best way to contact TikTok is through their help center form https://www.tiktok.com/legal/report/feedback.
When contacting TikTok support about a potential shadowban, be sure to provide as much detail as possible, including:
- Your TikTok username
- When you first noticed the problem
- Any major changes you’ve made recently (new hashtags, posting frequency, etc.)
- Screenshots of analytics showing the drop in engagement/reach
Politely request that TikTok reviews your account for any potential shadowbanning issues. Note that you believe your content follows their community guidelines.
Additionally, you can try reaching out to TikTok creators on other platforms like Twitter and ask them to escalate your case to their internal teams. However, the help center form is typically the best first step.
While TikTok may not acknowledge if a shadowban is in place, being polite and providing ample evidence can help get your case reviewed. Patience is key, as it may take some time to get a response.
Alternatives if Shadowban Remains
If you’ve tried appealing your shadowban multiple times to no avail, creating a new account may be your only option. According to the Later blog, “If your appeals continually get rejected, the best route is to create a brand new account and start fresh.”
When starting a new account, be mindful of the guidelines to avoid another shadowban. Use original captions, follow posting best practices, and avoid banned hashtags or content.
You can also consider expanding to other platforms. YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and Facebook Videos allow similar short-form video content. While you likely built an audience on TikTok, transitioning to a new platform may be better than being permanently shadowbanned. Evaluate your goals and where your audience is most active in determining the best platform.
Lastly, you can repurpose your banned TikTok content, potentially downloading and re-editing videos, to post on other sites. This takes more effort but allows you to continue showcasing your videos without the TikTok shadowban.
