What is a TikTok Shadowban?
A shadowban on TikTok is when a user’s content is hidden from most other users without any notification. TikTok does not publicly share details on its shadowbanning practices, but it is believed to limit the reach and visibility of accounts that violate its community guidelines or terms of service in some way.
Unlike a full account ban or content removal, a shadowban allows the user to keep posting, but their videos, comments, hashtags, and profile will not show up in feeds, results, or recommendations for the majority of the TikTok community. The user is essentially “ghosted” without realizing their account has been flagged.
According to TikTok experts, the main purpose of shadowbanning is to restrict a user’s audience and visibility as a warning or temporary punishment, without fully kicking them off the platform. It acts as a behind-the-scenes enforcement system for minor or borderline offenses.
Overall, a TikTok shadowban significantly reduces someone’s views, likes, and comments. But their content is not completely hidden from everyone. Close friends and existing followers may still see it, but the account will have limited reach for discovering new viewers.
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Why Would TikTok Shadowban You?
TikTok may shadowban an account for the following main reasons:
Spam
– Posting too much duplicate or repetitive content
– Mass following and unfollowing accounts
– Posting too frequently (more than 5-10 times per day)
– Using bots or third-party apps to automate activity
Inappropriate Content
– Posting overtly sexual, violent, hateful, or dangerous content
– Violating TikTok’s community guidelines around nudity, harassment, etc.
– Posting content that promotes self-harm or illegal activity
Violating Guidelines
– Impersonating another person or brand
– Copyright violations or posting others’ content without permission
– Misleading content like clickbait titles or descriptions
TikTok wants to promote a safe, authentic, and positive environment, so accounts that violate these aims may get shadowbanned without warning.
How to Tell if You’re Shadowbanned
There are a few key signs that indicate your TikTok account may be shadowbanned:
- Sudden drop in views, likes, comments, and followers. If you normally get thousands of views but are now only getting a few hundred, that’s a red flag.
- Your videos are not showing up under relevant hashtags or on hashtag/sound pages that they should be. Use a secondary account to search hashtags you use and see if your videos come up.
- Your posts are only being shown to your existing followers and people who directly visit your profile. If you’re not getting any views from hashtags, the FYP, or non-followers, you’re likely shadowbanned.
- You are not ranking for keywords and hashtags you normally would. Search for your name, username, or video titles and see if they show up in results.
- Your profile views and traffic sources in analytics show major decreases and next to nothing coming from hashtags, sounds, the FYP, or non-followers.
Essentially, being shadowbanned restricts your reach dramatically. Your content is only shown to people who specifically seek you or your profile out. All discovery of your videos through TikTok’s algorithms stops. This is how TikTok limits your audience and exposure without an outright ban.
If you notice several of these signs, unfortunately your account is likely shadowbanned to some degree. But don’t worry, you can take steps to get your account back in TikTok’s good graces.
How Long Do TikTok Shadowbans Last?
TikTok shadowbans typically last around two weeks, though the duration can vary depending on the severity of the violation that triggered the shadowban. According to sources, shadowbans for more minor offenses like spamming hashtags or posting duplicate content may only last a few days before being lifted automatically by TikTok’s systems [1]. However, violations related to community guidelines or Terms of Service could result in lengthier shadowban periods of a week or longer.
In general, first-time shadowbanning for minor issues seems to last about 1-2 weeks based on user reports before content returns to normal visibility levels [2]. But repeated or more serious offenses may lead to progressively longer shadowbans of a month or more. The goal with temporary shadowbanning is to penalize accounts for policy violations without resorting to a permanent ban.
TikTok does not directly confirm to users that they’ve been shadowbanned or the exact duration. The system is designed to be opaque on purpose to prevent abuse. But pay attention to sudden unexplained drops in engagement, and if it lasts longer than 2-3 weeks, it likely indicates a more serious violation versus a minor mistake.
What to Do if You’re Shadowbanned
If you suspect your account has been shadowbanned on TikTok, there are several steps you can take:
First, you should appeal the shadowban. You can do this directly within the TikTok app by going to your profile, tapping the three dots in the top right corner, selecting “Report a problem” and then choosing “Account”. Explain that you believe your account has been incorrectly shadowbanned and request a review.
Next, carefully review TikTok’s Community Guidelines to ensure you are not unintentionally violating any policies that could lead to a shadowban. Stop posting any content that could be construed as against the rules.
You’ll also want to be patient and wait it out. Sometimes shadowbans are temporary, lasting just a few days or weeks. Continue posting as normal while avoiding guideline violations and monitor if your reach begins to increase again over time.
The most important thing is fixing any problematic behavior that may have triggered the shadowban in the first place. Whether it was using banned hashtags, posting inappropriate content, or spamming others, you’ll need to correct those issues to get your full visibility back.
How to Appeal a TikTok Shadowban
If you believe your account has been wrongly shadowbanned, you can appeal to TikTok to try and get your account back to normal. Here are some tips for appealing a TikTok shadowban:
Go to TikTok’s appeal form and fill it out with your information. Explain politely that you believe your account has been shadowbanned and ask for the ban to be reviewed and lifted. Provide details on when you first noticed the issue and any content you may have posted that could have triggered the ban.
Emphasize that the shadowban seems unfair given the nature of the questionable content. Promise that you have removed any violating content and will be more mindful going forward of following all community guidelines. You can also note any other measures you’ve taken, like changing your username or reinstalling the app.
Appeals are more likely to be successful if you are honest, polite, and constructive. Don’t get angry at TikTok or demand the ban be reversed. Instead, calmly make your case for why you feel the shadowban is unjustified. With some patience and luck, TikTok may review your appeal and decide to lift the shadowban.
How to Get Unshadowbanned on TikTok
Getting unshadowbanned on TikTok typically requires improving your content and account behavior. Here are some tips that may help get your account back in good standing:
- Review your recent posts and delete any that violate TikTok’s community guidelines, such as nudity, violence, hate speech, or dangerous challenges. Removing problematic content can help lift a shadowban.
- Take a break from posting for a few days to reset your account. TikTok’s algorithm may be limiting your reach if you post too frequently.
- Engage positively with your current followers by liking posts and getting involved in trends. Shadowbans are meant to limit your audience, so focus on your existing community.
- Avoid using hashtags, songs, or effects that are commonly abused by spammers. TikTok may associate you with bad actors if you use the same elements.
- Consider changing your username or profile photo if either could be construed as inappropriate. A fresh start can help.
- Be patient and keep making great, original content. As you improve your account’s reputation, TikTok should start showing your posts normally again.
Getting unshadowbanned takes time, but continuing to post quality content and engage your followers will eventually override the shadowban. Check your analytics to see if your views are recovering over the course of several weeks. If you believe you were mistakenly shadowbanned, you can submit an appeal to TikTok.
How to Avoid Being Shadowbanned Again
If your account has been shadowbanned before, you’ll want to be extra cautious going forward to avoid another shadowban. Here are some tips to help prevent future shadowbans:
Follow all of TikTok’s community guidelines closely – don’t post any content that could be deemed inappropriate or violate their policies. Pay special attention to their rules around nudity, violence, hate speech, harassment, and dangerous acts.
Space out your posting instead of uploading in bulk. Posting too much content at once can sometimes trigger TikTok’s spam detection, so aim to spread out your uploads over time.
Avoid using bots, automated services, or spam tactics to inflate engagement. Only use authentic engagement methods, and don’t try to artificially boost your videos through likes, comments, or followers from fake accounts.
Carefully consider hashtags and songs. Overused tags and trending audios often have more competition, which can impact your visibility. Try finding a good mix of popular and more niche hashtags relevant to your content.
Analyze your analytics to identify any patterns with lower reach or engagement. This can help you pinpoint areas to improve in your content strategy and avoid tactics that may limit your visibility.
Stay active and keep producing quality content. Consistency and genuine community interaction are key. If you slip into periods of low activity, it could send signals to TikTok’s algorithm.
By carefully following TikTok’s rules, using authentic engagement tactics, analyzing your data, and staying actively engaged, you can help prevent your account from being shadowbanned again in the future.
The Future of Shadowbanning on TikTok
As TikTok continues to grow in popularity, it’s likely that the use of shadowbanning by the platform will also increase and evolve over time. With over 1 billion monthly active users, TikTok has to find ways to moderate content at scale. Shadowbanning provides an automated way for TikTok to penalize accounts that violate community guidelines without fully suspending them.
According to one source, TikTok’s opaque shadowbanning system makes it impossible to know how many accounts are affected (Cato Institute, 2022). As more creators join the platform, trying to game the TikTok algorithm, it’s probable that violations will increase, leading to more shadowbanning. TikTok may also refine its shadowban algorithms and machine learning models to identify policy violations more accurately.
In addition, if shadowbanned accounts find ways to circumvent the restrictions, TikTok will likely develop more sophisticated shadowbanning methods. Rather than imposing a temporary visibility penalty, TikTok could shadowban specific types of content, hashtags, or accounts indefinitely. While details are unclear, TikTok seems to be expanding its content moderation teams and automation (Social Champ, 2022). Overall, creators will need to pay close attention to Community Guidelines to avoid shadowbans in the future.
Key Takeaways
TikTok shadowbanning is when your content is hidden from the main For You page without any notification. It usually happens if TikTok’s algorithms detect spammy behavior or violations of community guidelines.
The duration of a TikTok shadowban can vary greatly, from just a few days to a few weeks or longer. There’s no set timeline. Much depends on the severity and type of violation that triggered the shadowban.
The best way to get your account back to normal is to avoid posting rule-breaking content during the shadowban period. Appeal the ban if you feel it was a mistake, and focus on creating high-quality content that follows TikTok’s policies.
With time and consistent good behavior, TikTok should lift the shadowban restrictions and your account will regain its full reach and visibility. But subsequent violations could trigger more shadowbanning, so be careful about the content you post moving forward.
