TikTok allows users to report concerning accounts and block accounts they don’t want to interact with. Reporting and blocking serve different purposes on TikTok.
Reporting is meant to notify TikTok of accounts that may be violating community guidelines or terms of service. Reasons to report an account include bullying, hate speech, scams, impersonation, and more. When you report an account, you are flagging it for TikTok to review.
Blocking prevents you from viewing an account’s content or interacting with them. You may want to block an account that is spamming you, making inappropriate comments, or that you simply don’t want to see anymore. Blocking only affects your view of the account.
This article provides an overview of how to report and block accounts on TikTok via the mobile app. It outlines the key differences and use cases for reporting vs. blocking.
Reasons to Report an Account
There are several reasons you may want to report a TikTok account. Some of the most common reasons include:
Offensive or abusive content – If an account is posting content that is harassing, hateful, or contains threats, you can report it. TikTok’s community guidelines prohibit bullying, harassment, hate speech, and dangerous individuals or organizations (https://www.tiktok.com/safety/en/safety-center/bullying-and-harassment).
Spam – Accounts that repeatedly post unrelated or unwanted content can be reported as spam. TikTok aims to limit duplicative or low-quality content (https://www.tiktok.com/community-guidelines).
Impersonation – If an account is pretending to be someone else, especially a celebrity, public figure, or brand, you can report them for impersonation. TikTok does not allow impersonating others (https://support.tiktok.com/en/safety-hc/report-a-problem/report-an-impersonation-account).
Under 13 – Accounts for children under 13 can be reported, as TikTok requires users to be at least 13 years old (https://www.tiktok.com/safety/en/privacy-settings).
Illegal activities – Any account promoting illegal drugs, violence, regulated goods, dangerous organizations, or other criminal behavior should be reported (https://www.tiktok.com/community-guidelines?lang=en).
How to Report an Account
To report a TikTok account, first tap on your Profile icon on the bottom right of the app screen. If you aren’t logged in, you may be prompted to log into your account. Once on your profile, tap on the 3 dots icon in the top right corner to open a menu. Select “Report a problem” and then tap “Report user.” You will then be able to select the issue you want to report the account for, such as nudity, harassment, scams, terrorism, violence, suicide, dangerous organizations or individuals, illegal activities, hate speech, bullying, impersonation, child safety, or an eating disorder. After choosing the issue, you will be asked to provide details about why you are reporting the account. Give as much relevant information as possible. Finally, tap “Submit” to complete reporting the account Report a problem | TikTok Help Center.
What Happens After You Report
After you report an account on TikTok, the platform will review the report to determine if it violates their Community Guidelines. TikTok has teams dedicated to reviewing flagged content and enforcing policies. The review process aims to be thorough, fair, and consistent.
If the reported account is found to have broken TikTok’s rules, there can be several consequences depending on the severity of the violation. For minor first-time offenses, the account may receive a warning asking them to remove specific content. More serious or repeat violations can lead to suspensions ranging from temporary to permanent. In extreme cases where the platform’s values are egregiously violated, accounts may be immediately and permanently banned.
According to TikTok’s policies, if your account gets suspended you will receive an in-app notification explaining the violation. You can also check the status of your account and appeal decisions by going to the “Account Updates” section of your inbox. However, permanently banned accounts cannot be recovered.
Reasons to Block an Account
There are a few key reasons why you may want to block an account on TikTok:
To avoid seeing unwanted content from that user. Blocking an account will prevent their videos from appearing in your For You feed and search results. This can be useful if a particular user is posting content you find offensive, inappropriate, or otherwise unwanted.
To stop any interactions from that user. Blocking prevents the user from commenting on your videos, messaging you directly, or seeing any of your activity. This eliminates contact from accounts acting inappropriately, harassing you, or spamming you.
Overall, blocking is the best option if you want to completely avoid an account’s presence on TikTok. It gives you control over the content and interactions you see on the app. As TikTok’s Help Center notes, blocking “disables users from viewing your videos or engaging with you.”
How to Block an Account
Blocking an account on TikTok is easy to do right from the app. Here are the steps to block someone:
- Go to the profile of the account you want to block.
- Tap the three dots icon in the upper right corner of their profile.
- A menu will pop up – tap “Block” from the options.
- Confirm that you want to block the account.
Once you block an account, you won’t see them in your feed or be able to view their profile. They also won’t be able to find your profile or see your posts. You can unblock accounts at any time by going to your Settings and “Blocked Accounts” section.
What Blocking Does
Blocking a user on TikTok prevents them from interacting with your account in several key ways:
First, blocking stops the user from viewing your profile and videos. Once blocked, your content will no longer show up for them in searches or recommendations. This helps create distance between you and the blocked account.
Second, blocking prevents the user from commenting on or engaging with your videos. They will not be able to post comments, duet with your videos, or interact through messages. This removes their ability to contact you on TikTok.
Finally, blocking stops the user from following you or liking your content. Your profile and videos will essentially disappear from their TikTok experience. They will not receive notifications about your activity either. This severs the connection between accounts.
In summary, blocking cuts off all avenues of interaction between you and the blocked user. It removes your content from their view and their ability to engage with you. This creates a definitive separation on the platform.[1]
Reporting vs. Blocking
Reporting and blocking serve different purposes on TikTok. Reporting is used to flag inappropriate content or behavior and aims to stop that content or behavior from continuing on the platform. Blocking prevents a specific account from interacting with you and limits their access to your profile and content.
You may want to report an account if they are bullying, harassing, or otherwise behaving inappropriately. Reporting brings the account’s behavior to TikTok’s attention so they can review it and take action if it violates their community guidelines. This helps stop the spread of harmful content and behavior on the platform. According to TikTok’s support site, you can report videos, comments, accounts, chats and more.
Blocking is useful if you want to prevent a specific account from viewing your content or interacting with you. Blocking an account makes it so they can’t view your videos, message you, or see your comments. It limits their access and prevents any engagement between you and that account. TikTok’s instructions note that blocking disconnects you from an account without notifying them.
In summary, reporting aims to stop bad behavior while blocking prevents engagement and access. Reporting helps keep TikTok safe while blocking gives individuals control over their interactions.
Appealing Blocks and Bans
If your TikTok account has been blocked or banned but you believe it was done in error, you can appeal the decision through TikTok’s appeal form. To start the appeal process:
- Open the notification you received about the ban or block.
- Tap “Appeal” to open the appeal form.
- Select the reason you believe the ban or block was incorrect.
- Provide additional details to support your appeal.
- Submit the form.
Once submitted, TikTok’s review team will evaluate your appeal and make a decision. The timeframe varies, but the process can take anywhere from 24 hours to a few weeks depending on the volume of appeals.
It’s important to provide as much detail as possible in the appeal form to increase the chances of a successful appeal. Focus on explaining why you believe the ban or block was a mistake, and include any evidence that supports your explanation.
While waiting for a decision, you will not be able to access your TikTok account. You will receive a notification from TikTok once the review is complete advising if your appeal was approved or denied.
Conclusion
Reporting and blocking accounts on TikTok are important safety tools to protect yourself and others from harmful content or behavior. If you see an account violating TikTok’s Community Guidelines, you should report it. This lets TikTok review the account and take appropriate action.
Blocking prevents a specific account from viewing your profile or contacting you. It’s a personal preference to block accounts you find annoying, offensive or abusive. Blocking is not a report and does not get the account banned.
By reporting violations and blocking unwanted interactions, you help keep TikTok fun and safe for everyone. Don’t hesitate to use these tools if you encounter accounts misusing the platform. Stay vigilant, look out for each other, and work together to uphold TikTok’s community standards.
