TikTok is a popular social media platform known for its short videos. Like other social platforms, TikTok has rules in place to maintain a safe environment for its users. Violating these rules can lead to account suspension, which restricts access to the app and posting capabilities.
There are a few main reasons TikTok may suspend an account: copyright violations, community policy violations, or account security issues. TikTok aims to enforce its rules consistently across all users. Account suspensions can range from temporary to permanent, depending on the severity and frequency of violations.
If your TikTok account has been suspended, it can be a frustrating experience. However, there are steps you can take to determine the reason, appeal if appropriate, and potentially recover your account. This guide will walk through that process.
Appealing the Suspension
If your TikTok account has been suspended, the first step is to appeal the suspension through TikTok’s official channels. According to TikTok’s Help Center, you can appeal a suspended account directly in the TikTok app or website.
To submit an appeal in the TikTok app:
- Open the TikTok app and go to your profile page.
- Tap “Submit an Appeal” and follow the on-screen instructions.
To submit an appeal on TikTok’s website:
- Go to https://www.tiktok.com/login/ and log in to your account.
- Click on your profile picture and go to “Settings and Privacy”.
- Click “Report a Problem” and select “Appeal Suspended Account”.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to submit your appeal.
In your appeal, be sure to explain in detail why you believe your account was wrongly suspended. Provide any evidence or context that can help your appeal. TikTok recommends submitting appeals as soon as possible after receiving a suspension notice.
Identifying the Suspension Reason
The first step is to review the email or in-app notification you received from TikTok about your suspension. This should explain the reason your account was suspended. Common reasons for suspension include:
- Copyright violations – Posting content you don’t have rights to use
- Community guideline violations – Going against TikTok’s rules and policies
- Account security issues – Suspicious activity detected on your account
Understanding the exact reason helps you craft the right appeal to get your account back. For copyright issues, you’ll need to prove you had permission to post the content. For community violations, you’ll need to explain how you’ll prevent the violation going forward. Review the suspension notice carefully to identify the reason and policy violated (source).
Copyright Violations
If your TikTok account was suspended due to a copyright violation claim, you can dispute the claim by submitting a counter-notice appeal. According to TikTok’s help center, you can appeal a copyright claim by tapping “Appeal” on the Copyright Infringement notification and providing your contact information and an explanation of why you believe your content does not infringe copyrights.
When submitting a counter-notice, make sure to provide a detailed explanation of why you believe your content qualifies as fair use, such as using a short clip for parody or criticism. You can also explain if you have permission or a license to use the content in question (TikTok Help Center).
Other tips for appealing copyright claims on TikTok include:
- Submitting an original DMCA counter-notice form if the built-in appeal is unsuccessful
- Providing screenshots of permission granted or license ownership
- Editing the video to remove infringing content and re-uploading
It’s important to respond to copyright claims quickly and thoroughly to have the best chance of successfully appealing a suspension. TikTok aims to complete reviews of counter-notices within 10-14 days (InVideo).
Community Violations
If your account was suspended for violating TikTok’s community guidelines, you’ll need to remove any problematic content to have your account reinstated. TikTok’s guidelines prohibit certain types of content like hate speech, harassment, dangerous acts, and sexually explicit material.
Go through your account and delete videos that clearly violate the guidelines. You can also edit the captions or sounds associated with a video to remove offensive language or music. According to TikTok, “If we see that you’ve stopped posting content that violates our guidelines and are following them moving forward, your account may be reinstated.”
Make sure you are familiar with all of TikTok’s community guidelines to avoid future violations. You may need to adjust your posting style or content topics to align with the platform’s rules.
Account Security Issues
If your TikTok account was hacked or compromised, you’ll need to go through some steps to prove ownership and secure your account. According to TikTok’s support article, first tap on your Profile and go to Settings and Privacy. From there, tap Manage Account and then Log in and Security. You can review the devices logged into your account and remove any unfamiliar ones (source).
To further secure your account, enable two-factor authentication if it is not already on. You can also change your password to something secure that only you know. Be sure to use a unique password that you don’t use on any other sites. Once you have secured your account, you can contact TikTok to regain access. Provide details to prove you are the rightful account owner such as the original email, phone number, or social accounts linked to it (source).
Waiting for Review
Once you have submitted your appeal to TikTok, you will need to wait for their team to review your case and make a decision. According to TikTok’s help article, the average time it takes to review an appeal is 24-72 hours. However, it may take longer in some cases depending on the complexity of the issue.
During this waiting period, you will not be able to access your TikTok account. The app may show an error message like “account suspended” or “content unavailable.” You will need to wait patiently as TikTok investigates your appeal.
If your appeal is successful, TikTok will reinstate your account and you’ll be able to access it normally. You may need to reset your password. If your appeal is rejected, TikTok will notify you via email about their decision. At that point, you can try submitting another appeal with additional information.
Overall, expect the TikTok appeal review process to take at least 1-3 days. Have patience as their team thoroughly investigates your case. With a clear explanation and evidence supporting your appeal, there is a good chance your TikTok account will be reinstated.
Creating a New Account
If your TikTok account has been permanently banned, you may be wondering if you can simply create a new account. According to TikTok’s support page, you are allowed to create multiple accounts. However, TikTok may restrict or permanently ban any new accounts if they determine you are trying to evade an existing ban.
There are a few guidelines around creating a new TikTok account after receiving a ban:
- Use a different email address and phone number than your banned account. TikTok may be able to detect if you are using the same contact information.
- Consider using a new device if your device was banned along with your account. TikTok may be able to identify your device.
- Change your username, profile photo, bio, and any other identifiable information. Avoid recreating your old profile.
- Do not attempt to do anything that goes against TikTok’s Community Guidelines with your new account.
Some users recommend using a VPN when creating a new account to mask your IP address. However, this does not guarantee TikTok will not detect your new account. The best approach is to ensure you follow TikTok’s rules moving forward.
Sources:
https://www.pipiads.com/blog/banned-on-tiktok-heres-how-to-create-a-new-account-in-2022/
https://support.tiktok.com/en/safety-hc/account-and-user-safety/content-violations-and-bans
Preventing Future Suspensions
The best way to avoid having your TikTok account suspended again is to carefully follow TikTok’s community guidelines and terms of service. Here are some best practices:
Avoid posting copyrighted content that you do not have permission to use. TikTok has automatic content matching systems that can detect unauthorized use of copyrighted music, visuals or audio from other sources. Only use original content you created or have explicit rights to post. See TikTok’s copyright policy for more details.
Keep your content appropriate for a diverse audience. Do not post sexually explicit, graphically violent, harassing, hateful or dangerous content. TikTok aims to provide an enjoyable experience for users of all ages and backgrounds. Review their community guidelines to understand what type of content is not allowed.
Do not buy, sell or trade TikTok accounts, followers, likes or other metrics. This violates TikTok’s terms around artificial engagement and can get your account banned. Grow your account organically through creative, quality content that resonates with users.
Do not try to manipulate your account, content or metrics using unauthorized third party apps or services. TikTok can detect the use of these and will suspend accounts.
In general, act in good faith to share content that adds value, follows all guidelines and laws, and makes TikTok a positive space for self-expression.
Conclusion
In summary, there are several options for recovering a suspended TikTok account. The first step is to appeal the suspension through TikTok’s support forms and provide any requested information to assist in their review. Be sure to clearly explain why you believe your account was wrongly suspended. If the appeal is unsuccessful, try reaching out again emphasizing new information. As a last resort, you may need to create a new account and be very careful to avoid any behavior that could risk another suspension. The best approach is being proactive by thoroughly reading TikTok’s community guidelines to understand what type of content is acceptable, and avoiding posting copyrighted material without permission. With some patience and persistence, you hopefully can regain access to your TikTok account and community.
