What does it mean to be banned on TikTok?
Being banned on TikTok means that your account has either been suspended temporarily or permanently prohibited from accessing the platform. There are a few key differences between an account suspension and a permanent ban:
Account Suspension:
- Temporary loss of access, usually for a set period of time like 24 hours to 30 days
- Can occur if TikTok detects spammy behavior, suspicious activity, or minor policy violations
- Account will be reinstated after suspension period ends
Permanent Ban:
- Complete removal of account with no option to access it again
- Reserved for severe or repeated violations of TikTok’s Terms of Service
- Activities like hate speech, illegal content, dangerous acts, bullying, or harassing other users can result in a permanent ban
In both cases, being banned eliminates your ability to log into your TikTok account, post videos, comment, message, or interact with the platform in any way during the suspension/ban period. According to TikTok’s appeals process, bans are enforced to “protect the TikTok community by removing accounts and content that don’t follow our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines” [1].
Is a TikTok ban permanent?
Most bans on TikTok are temporary rather than permanent. The length of the ban depends on the severity of the violation as well as the overall history of the account. Minor first-time violations typically result in bans lasting 1-7 days. More serious or repeated violations can lead to bans of 2 weeks or longer.
However, in cases of severe or ongoing violations, TikTok may permanently ban an account. Examples of violations that could prompt a permanent ban include posting illegal content, hate speech, terrorist content, child exploitation, or repeatedly violating community guidelines after multiple temporary bans.
According to TikTok’s terms of service, the company reserves the right to permanently ban any account or device at its sole discretion. So while most bans are temporary, users should be aware that TikTok can and does permanently ban accounts in cases of egregious or repeat offenses.
In summary, whether a TikTok ban is permanent depends on the type of violation and the account’s history. Most users can regain access after a temporary ban, but those who commit severe or ongoing violations may face permanent bans.
Appealing a TikTok Ban
If your TikTok account gets banned, you can appeal the ban directly through the TikTok app. The appeal process involves providing your account information and an explanation for why you believe the ban should be lifted.
According to TikTok’s guidelines, you’ll need to provide your phone number or email associated with your account in order to submit an appeal. TikTok states that most bans are irreversible, but some users have reported success getting their accounts reinstated by going through the appeal process.
When crafting your appeal, be polite and honest. Explain why you believe the ban was a mistake, and promise not to violate any community guidelines going forward. Providing context around the content that got you banned can also be helpful. However, abusive or confrontational language is unlikely to get your appeal approved.
It’s a good idea to appeal soon after receiving the ban notification, as accounts are sometimes permanently deleted after 30 days. Be patient, as it can take TikTok up to 30 days to respond to an appeal. Unfortunately TikTok does not share specific statistics on ban appeal success rates.
Some key tips for crafting an effective TikTok ban appeal:
- Be sincere and admit fault if appropriate
- Emphasize that you want to follow all guidelines moving forward
- Explain why your account and content is valuable to the TikTok community
- Ask politely for a second chance
- Provide context around the violation if relevant
- Follow up if you don’t hear back within 30 days
With persistence and an appropriate appeal, some users have managed to regain access to banned accounts. However, TikTok holds full discretion when it comes to lifting bans.
Creating a new account after being banned
TikTok’s terms of service prohibit ban evasion, which means creating a new account after being banned. According to TikTok’s Community Guidelines, “Attempts to avoid permanent suspension by creating alternate accounts will result in those accounts being removed, and permanent suspension applied to the new accounts.”
TikTok uses sophisticated techniques to detect ban evasion accounts automatically. Factors that can trigger detection include using the same device, IP address, wifi network, phone number, or third-party login like Facebook or Google. TikTok may even analyze your posting style, followers, and other account details to link new accounts to previously banned ones.
The risk of getting caught and having a new account banned is quite high. While it’s possible to take steps to avoid automatic detection, like using a different device and internet connection, success is not guaranteed. The safest approach is to assume that any new account will get banned if the previous one was banned for a violation of TikTok’s terms.
Rather than creating a new account, it’s recommended to appeal the ban on the original account, rectify any violations, and aim to have the suspension lifted so you can regain access. Persistent ban evasion will lead to permanent irreversible bans.
Regaining access to a banned TikTok account
Regaining access to a TikTok account that has been permanently banned can be very difficult, but is sometimes possible if the ban was made in error. According to Vistasocial, users can attempt to appeal the ban by reaching out to TikTok support and providing valid photo identification, though success is not guaranteed (source). If the appeal is rejected, users may need to pursue legal action to regain access to a banned account, but this is rare.
The first step is to try submitting an appeal through the app by going to your profile page and tapping the appeal button. Provide as much detail as possible explaining why your account should not have been banned. You can also try emailing TikTok support or contacting them through the app to explain the situation and request your account be reinstated.
If the appeal is unsuccessful, you may need to go further by providing government-issued ID to prove you are the legitimate account owner. This could include a driver’s license, passport, or other valid photo identification showing your identity matches the banned account details. However, there is no guarantee TikTok will accept ID and overturn a ban.
As a last resort, seeking legal counsel to regain access to a banned TikTok account is possible but extremely rare. This would only apply if you can definitively prove TikTok banned your account incorrectly or without cause. For most typical cases, pursuing legal action is unnecessary and unlikely to succeed.
Preventing bans on TikTok
The best way to avoid getting banned on TikTok is to understand and follow their content policies. TikTok’s Community Guidelines outline what type of content is allowed on the platform.
Some common pitfalls that can lead to a ban include posting illegal or dangerous content, nudity or sexual content, hate speech, harassment, and spam. It’s important to carefully review your videos before posting to ensure they comply with the rules.
You can also avoid issues by ensuring your account remains in good standing. Don’t buy followers or artificially inflate engagement. Use authentic content and hashtags. Follow proper attribution and copyright rules if using others’ content. And be sure to actively moderate your comments to remove any that violate policies.
Overall, taking time to understand TikTok’s rules, avoiding risky content, and maintaining your account properly will help prevent your account from being banned.
Examples of Activities That Can Lead to a Ban
There are several types of violations that can result in a ban on TikTok. Three major categories that commonly lead to bans include:
Hate Speech, Bullying, Harassment
Any content that attacks, dehumanizes, or marginalizes individuals or groups based on protected attributes is strictly prohibited on TikTok and can result in a permanent ban. This includes racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic and other hateful speech or activities.
Likewise, severe bullying, harassment, threats of violence or threats to public safety are grounds for an immediate ban according to TikTok’s Community Guidelines.
Nudity, Pornography, Sexually Explicit Content
TikTok bans accounts for posting sexually explicit content such as nudity, pornography, or sexual services/solicitation. While educational, documentary, scientific, or artistic content containing nudity may be permitted in some contexts, overtly sexual content is prohibited.
Impersonation, Spam, Fake Engagements
Any attempts to artificially inflate popularity or deceive others are banned. This includes buying or selling accounts, followers, likes, or shares. Impersonating other accounts, coordinated inauthentic behavior, and spam also result in bans.
Overall, any content or activity that violates TikTok’s Community Guidelines can potentially lead to penalties or bans.
Consequences of getting banned
Getting banned on TikTok can have several negative consequences for users who have invested time in building up their accounts. Some of the main downsides of getting banned include:
- Losing followers, comments, likes, and other account history. After a ban, all of a user’s previous content and engagement will no longer be accessible.
- Wasted time spent building up the account’s audience and status within the TikTok community. Years of effort creating and sharing videos can vanish if banned.
- No longer being able to use key features of TikTok. Banned users can’t post new videos, go live, or interact with other users through comments, messages, etc.
In summary, a ban removes access to TikTok and undoes all the hard work put into an account. TikTokers who rely on the platform professionally or creatively can be severely impacted by losing their outlet and audience due to a ban. This makes it critical to follow TikTok’s rules and appeal bans when possible.
Lesser Penalties Besides Full Bans
In addition to full account bans, TikTok may impose lesser penalties for violations of their community guidelines. Some alternative consequences include:
- Limits on commenting or live streaming for a period of time (according to TikTok’s support site, live streaming may be restricted for first-time minor violations) (source)
- Shadowbanning an account – this is when TikTok limits a user’s visibility or reach without informing them
- Removal of specific violating content like an individual video or comment
These alternative penalties allow TikTok to penalize violations without resorting to a full account ban. They help address problematic behavior while enabling users to still access the platform, if they follow the rules moving forward.
Banned TikTokers: examples and lessons
Some high-profile TikTok creators have faced bans or suspensions from the platform, providing cautionary tales for other users. For example, Faizal Siddiqui’s account was banned in 2020 after he posted a video that seemed to glorify acid attacks on women (1). The video was quickly deleted but viewed as promoting violence. In response, Siddiqui apologized and claimed he did not intend to promote harm. TikTok stated the content violated their policy on safety and suspended the account.
Another Indian TikToker, Jannat Zubair, was issued a provisional ban in August 2020 for posting videos that were deemed too risky for minors (2). One of the controversial videos involved Zubair cutting a birthday cake with a sword. After the ban, she expressed regret and said she would be more mindful of content guidelines moving forward.
These incidents demonstrate how TikTok penalizes creators who cross lines or neglect community guidelines, even when unintentionally. The bans serve as a warning to be thoughtful about content and be aware of policies. While the rules aim to maintain a safe environment, viral stars still need to walk the line between creativity and responsibility.
(1) https://m.youtube.com/@cutekids0047
(2) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-lt6gAJ0yY8
