TikTok is one of the most popular social media apps right now, with over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide in 2022 [1]. The short-form video platform allows users to create, share, and discover entertaining videos across a wide variety of topics.
However, with such a massive amount of content coming from a diverse userbase, you may encounter videos on TikTok that you find irrelevant, uninteresting, or inappropriate. The algorithm is designed to show you content similar to what you have previously liked and interacted with. But over time, your interests may change or you may want more control over the content you see.
Fortunately, TikTok provides several options to stop seeing unwanted content. In this article, we’ll explore how to control what appears in your feed and recommendations.
Understanding the TikTok Algorithm
The TikTok algorithm is designed to determine what content might interest you based on how you interact with videos. According to the New York Times, TikTok gives each video a score based on an equation that factors in your interests, past interactions, and other data points. Videos with higher scores are more likely to show up on your For You page.
Some of the key factors that influence what TikTok recommends include:
- Watch time – Spending more time watching a video signals interest so you may see similar videos.
- Likes and comments – Engaging with videos by liking and commenting also informs the algorithm.
- Searches – Looking up related content can lead to more recommendations in that niche.
- User interactions – Who you follow and what others you share interests with impacts suggestions.
According to a HootSuite article, the TikTok algorithm is constantly evolving to refine its recommendations and keep people engaged on the platform. Understanding how it works can help you tailor the content you see.
Adjusting Interests in Settings
The algorithm that powers your For You feed on TikTok takes into account the content that you interact with to determine your interests and preferences. However, you can directly modify your interests in the app settings to help shape the recommendations you see on your For You page.
To update your interests in TikTok:
- Open the TikTok app and tap on the profile icon in the bottom right corner.
- Tap on the three horizontal lines in the top right corner to open the menu.
- Select “Settings and privacy” from the menu.
- Tap on “For You”
- Under “Interests”, you will see topics like “Food”, “Animals”, or “Comedy”. Tap on any topic to indicate you are interested or not interested in that type of content.
- You can also tap “More” to explore additional interests and preferences to add.
- Tap “Done” once you have finished updating your interests.
TikTok states that adjusting your interests in settings helps tune your For You feed so that you are more likely to see content that matches your preferences. Keep in mind it may take some time for the algorithm to learn and adapt after making changes. Check back after a few days using TikTok to see if your For You page reflects the updates you made.
Additionally, you can tap on “Suggested accounts” in the account settings to indicate accounts you are not interested in following. This can further shape the content you see in your feed over time.
Using “Not Interested” on Videos
One of the best ways to refine your TikTok recommendations is to use the “Not Interested” button on videos. This button allows you to indicate to the TikTok algorithm that you did not enjoy or want to see that particular video. The button is located at the bottom right of each video, represented by an “X” icon.
According to experts, consistently using the “Not Interested” button helps train the TikTok algorithm over time to learn your true preferences and interests (Source). This can gradually improve your For You page recommendations by reducing the amount of unwanted content. However, it may take some time and repeated use before you notice a significant difference. The key is to be diligent about tapping “Not Interested” on videos that you do not wish to see again.
Some users have reported issues with the “Not Interested” button occasionally disappearing. If this happens, try force closing and reopening the app. You can also clear the app’s cache and data to refresh things. But when available, using this simple button consistently can be an effective way to refine your TikTok recommendations.
Blocking Accounts
The simplest way to stop seeing content from a specific account on TikTok is to block that account. This removes their content from your For You page and other recommendations.
To access your block list and block accounts on TikTok, tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner, then go to Settings and Privacy > Blocked accounts. Here you can view a list of any accounts you’ve previously blocked as well as block new accounts.
When you block an account, you won’t see their videos, comments, lives, or any other content from them. They will also be unable to find your profile or see your content. Essentially it removes you from each other’s TikTok experience.
Blocking accounts is an effective way to curate your feed and recommendations. If you come across any accounts posting inappropriate content or things you simply don’t want to see, blocking them will remove their videos from your view. It’s a straightforward way to tailor TikTok to your interests and preferences.
Using Restricted Mode
Restricted Mode is a setting in TikTok that filters out potentially mature or inappropriate content. When enabled, Restricted Mode will exclude videos that contain revealing clothing or suggestive dances, strong language, themes related to drugs or alcohol, and other content deemed inappropriate for younger audiences.
To enable Restricted Mode on TikTok:
- Open the TikTok app and go to your profile page.
- Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner.
- Select “Digital Wellbeing” from the menu.
- Toggle “Restricted Mode” to the on position.
Once enabled, the setting will remain on until you manually turn it off. You can disable Restricted Mode at any time by returning to the Digital Wellbeing section and toggling the switch off.
While Restricted Mode can help filter out potentially objectionable content, it’s not foolproof. Some videos may slip through that don’t meet TikTok’s content guidelines. If you see inappropriate videos while Restricted Mode is on, consider reporting them to TikTok for review.
Be Careful What You Interact With
While likes, comments, and shares might feel harmless, they also provide strong signals to the TikTok algorithm about your interests and preferences. By liking, commenting on, and sharing certain types of videos, you are essentially telling the algorithm you want to see more of that content. As explained in TikTok’s support article, “your interactions with videos, hashtags, effects, sounds, captions, and more will continue to refine your For You feed.”
Therefore, it’s important to be selective and intentional with your interactions. If you want your For You page to feature less of a certain type of content, avoid engaging with those videos as much as possible. On the other hand, if you want to see more content similar to what you like, be active in liking, commenting, and sharing those types of videos. But keep in mind that excessive interaction with undesirable content can overwhelm your feed.
The key is being thoughtful about each interaction and how it steers the algorithm. Before liking, commenting, or sharing, consider if that’s the type of content you want to promote. With some discretion, you can help shape your feed to feature the content that matters most to you.
Consider Using Alternative Accounts
One option for stopping unwanted content is to use separate TikTok accounts for different interests. This helps keep the recommendations you see more tailored to each account’s niche. For example, you could have one account just for funny animal videos, another just for recipes, and a third for dance trends. With interests segmented this way, the algorithm is less likely to show content in one account that you don’t want to see there.
The Reddit thread Is it better to have multiple tiktok accounts? discusses the benefits of using multiple accounts. Users report having better success at keeping the For You page relevant when interests are split up. While managing multiple accounts takes more effort, the payoff is a more personalized and focused experience in each one.
According to SocialSmartly, all-in-one social media management apps can make it easier to keep up with multiple TikTok accounts. Apps like this let you switch between and post to different accounts from one dashboard. So it removes some of the hassle of constantly logging in and out to maintain separate interests.
Reporting Inappropriate Content
Reporting problematic TikTok videos and accounts is an important way to improve the quality of video suggestions you see. If you come across videos or accounts with offensive, dangerous, or abusive content, you can report them to TikTok directly through the app.
To report a problematic video, tap the ‘Share’ icon on the video and select ‘Report’. You’ll then be able to choose a reason for reporting, such as nudity, harassment, violence, hate speech, scams, or eating disorders. Add any additional details in the text box and submit the report.
To report an account, visit the profile and tap the 3-dot menu icon in the upper right. Select ‘Report account’ and choose a reason, then submit. You can also block the account from this menu.
According to TikTok’s Community Guidelines, content that promotes dangerous behavior, incites hate, or violates their policies may be removed. By reporting inappropriate videos and accounts, you help flag them for review so TikTok can take action and improve suggestions.
Conclusion
In summary, there are several ways you can stop seeing unwanted content on TikTok and improve the recommendations you receive over time:
- Go to your settings and adjust the interests associated with your account. This tells TikTok what types of videos you do and don’t want to see.
- Tap “Not Interested” on videos to remove that content from your recommendations.
- Block accounts that consistently post content you want to avoid.
- Enable Restricted Mode to limit mature content.
- Be mindful of what you watch, like, share, and comment on – interacting with content tells the algorithm to show you more of it.
It takes consistency over time, but by continually providing signals to TikTok through your interactions and settings, you can improve the relevance of the content you see on your feed.
For additional recommendations, check TikTok’s support articles on managing your account settings and recommendations. You can also consider using an alternate account just for viewing entertainment content, while keeping your main feed focused on your true interests.
