What Does Filtering Comments Mean on TikTok?
Filtering comments on TikTok refers to reviewing, screening, and approving or removing comments before they are publicly visible under a video or live stream (1). When creators enable comment filtering, by default all comments will be hidden until individually approved.
TikTok automatically filters comments containing profanity, spam, or offensive language. Creators can also choose to manually filter all comments, meaning they must proactively accept each one before it appears (2). This gives creators more control over the conversations on their videos.
Filtered comments remain visible to the original commenter, but are hidden from public view. Comments may be filtered if they contain unwanted or abusive language, or if creators simply want to monitor all discussion on their content before it is seen.
Sources:
(1) https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-gb/how-to-filter-comments-on-tiktok-2/
(2) https://support.tiktok.com/en/using-tiktok/messaging-and-notifications/comments
Why Does TikTok Filter Comments?
TikTok filters comments primarily to maintain a positive environment on the platform and remove profanity, spam, and harassment. According to TikTok’s support page, filtering comments allows users to “foster the kind of community you want” and helps ensure conversations remain “supportive and joyful.”
By automatically detecting and hiding inappropriate or abusive comments, TikTok aims to protect its users, especially younger audiences, from offensive content. Filtering also removes spam comments from bots to keep each post’s comments genuinely relevant.
Overall, TikTok’s goal with filtered comments is to cultivate an inclusive, friendly, and constructive environment for users to connect. While filtering limits some forms of expression, it allows users to share content without facing harassment.
How Can You Tell if Your TikTok Comments Are Filtered?
There are a couple ways to tell if your comments on TikTok have been filtered:
1. Your comment doesn’t appear right away. Typically comments appear immediately after posting. But if it’s been flagged by filters, it will be held for review.
2. You may see a notification that your comment may be inappropriate or violate community guidelines. This means it has been filtered and is awaiting approval.
TikTok does not directly notify users when a specific comment is filtered. But if you notice your comments are consistently not showing up, it likely means they are being filtered.
You can check for filtered comments by going to your profile, tapping the three-dot menu, selecting “Review filtered comments” and seeing which were flagged.
So in summary, delayed posting and warning messages are signs your comment was filtered. The only way to confirm is by checking filtered comments in your settings.
Both TikTok creators and TikTok itself have the ability to filter comments on the platform. Creators can choose to filter comments on their own videos, while TikTok utilizes automated filters to moderate comments site-wide.
Who Can Filter Comments on TikTok?
On TikTok, the creators who post videos have the option to filter comments on their own content. In the app’s settings, creators can turn on comment filtering for their account, which will automatically hide comments containing keywords or phrases that they specify. This gives creators more control over the comment sections on their videos.
According to TikTok’s support site, when creators enable comment filtering, “comments containing blacklist keywords will be hidden automatically” (https://support.tiktok.com/en/using-tiktok/messaging-and-notifications/comments). Creators can add custom blacklisted words or phrases that they want filtered from their comments.
In addition to creators filtering their own comments, TikTok also automatically filters comments across the platform using keyword blacklists and automated moderation. This site-wide filtering is done to remove spam, bullying, harassment, and other unwanted comments.
What Types of Comments Does TikTok Filter?
TikTok filters comments to create a positive environment and prevent abuse. According to TikTok’s support page, the main types of comments that get filtered include:
Profanity, hate speech, harassment – Any comments using offensive language, slurs, or threats get filtered. This protects users from hateful speech.
Spam comments – Repetitive or irrelevant comments intended to spam are filtered. This keeps conversations on topic.
Sensitive topics – Comments related to sensitive issues like politics, tragedies, or controversial figures may get filtered. TikTok aims to create a friendly, welcoming environment.
By filtering these types of negative comments, TikTok hopes to foster more meaningful conversations that align with its community guidelines. The filters allow creators to curate the tone and topics discussed on their videos.
Can You Unfilter or Approve Comments on TikTok?
Creators have the ability to approve filtered comments on their own videos, but viewers cannot unfilter comments they have posted. According to TikTok’s Help Center (https://support.tiktok.com/en/using-tiktok/messaging-and-notifications/comments), creators can approve filtered comments by following these steps:
- Go to your profile and tap on the video that has filtered comments.
- Tap ‘View Analytics’ on the bottom right.
- Tap ‘Comments’ on the bottom left.
- Tap ‘Review filtered comments’.
- Tap ‘Approve’ or ‘Delete’ below the comment you’d like to review.
This allows creators to selectively approve comments that may have been incorrectly flagged by TikTok’s filters. However, regular viewers do not have the ability to override comment filtering applied to their own posts. Once a comment is filtered, only the video creator can unfilter it through the review process.
Tips for Avoiding Filtered Comments
Here are some tips to help avoid having your comments filtered on TikTok:
- Avoid profanity and spam. Using curse words, repetitive content, or gibberish is likely to trigger TikTok’s filters.
- Keep comments relevant and constructive. Stick to commenting specifically about the content in the video or post. Negative, abusive, or irrelevant remarks may be filtered.
- Be thoughtful and polite. Being disrespectful or aggressive in comments can lead to filtering. Keep things positive.
- Avoid promotions and selling. Comments that appear to sell products or services unrelated to the post may be seen as spam.
- Steer clear of controversial topics. Sensitive subjects like politics and social issues often attract filtered comments.
Overall, comment as you would in a polite face-to-face conversation. TikTok aims to create a welcoming environment for genuine engagement between creators and viewers.
Controversy Over TikTok Comment Filtering
TikTok has faced accusations of censorship and suppressing certain types of speech through its comment filtering policies. In 2020, The Intercept published an investigative report alleging that TikTok instructed its moderators to restrict content from users deemed “ugly” or “poor” in an effort to attract new users1. TikTok denied these claims.
There is also controversy around TikTok suppressing political speech and activism on its platform. Critics argue TikTok’s comment filtering limits political discourse and prohibits marginalized groups from organizing. During the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, many users complained their comments regarding police brutality and racism were being filtered out. TikTok claimed technical glitches were to blame, not intentional censorship, but skepticism remains.
While TikTok says its policies prohibit bullying, harassment, misinformation, and hate speech, critics believe the vague wording gives TikTok broad discretion to filter any speech it deems inappropriate or against its business interests. TikTok’s opacity around how its algorithms choose which comments to filter adds further suspicions of censorship and limiting free speech.
Alternatives to Comment Filtering
While automatic filtering by algorithms is common on platforms like TikTok, there are alternatives that can help encourage positive commenting cultures:
Human moderation teams manually review comments and remove harmful ones, while preserving freedom of speech. This allows for more nuanced judgments, but scales poorly. Reddit utilizes volunteer moderators for subs. According to an article on LinkedIn, human moderation may be preferred for managing nuanced discourse.
Downvoting systems let communities self-police by pushing down unwanted comments, like on Reddit. However, this can lead to mob rule and doesn’t remove content. But combined with moderation, it helps identify problematic posts.
Reputation systems that unlock abilities based on a user’s record of positive contributions are used by some platforms. They encourage civil behavior without filtering. However, hostile users can game these systems if not designed properly.
Overall, while not perfect, human and community-based systems may better balance openness with protection compared to automatic filtering in some cases.
The Future of Comment Moderation on TikTok
As TikTok continues to grow, the platform is evolving its approach to comment moderation in an attempt to balance openness with safety. In a March 2023 blog post, TikTok acknowledged the need for more transparency around its content moderation practices, including filtering of comments. The company stated it is “focused on being more transparent about how our content policies are enforced so that users understand why we make certain decisions.”
In the future, TikTok aims to provide more clarity around which comments get filtered and why. The platform may also explore ways for creators to have more of a say in moderating their own comment sections. Overall, TikTok seems to recognize the need for open dialogue and accountability as it develops its content moderation strategies going forward.
Striking the right balance between allowing free expression and maintaining a respectful community will likely remain an ongoing conversation. As TikTok evolves, the company will hopefully prioritize transparency and user empowerment when it comes to shaping comment moderation policies.
