Illegal Content
TikTok’s Community Guidelines prohibit the promotion of illegal activities on the platform, including drug use, violence, defamation, and hate speech [1]. Users who encourage or depict dangerous or criminal behaviors may have their accounts banned.
Specifically, content that promotes the recreational use, sale, or trade of illegal drugs is strictly prohibited. Videos cannot depict the preparation, consumption, or distribution of substances like marijuana, cocaine, or prescription medications without a prescription [2]. Promoting illegal substances normalizes and encourages dangerous behavior.
Depictions of violence, whether real or dramatized, are also not allowed. This includes footage of assaults, fights, abuse, self-harm, or dangerous stunts that could lead to injury or death. Videos that encourage others to participate in violent acts will result in a permanent ban [3].
Hate speech, harassment, defamation, and bullying target people based on protected attributes like race, religion, or sexual orientation. TikTok aims to cultivate an inclusive community and does not tolerate discrimination. Accounts that promote supremacist ideologies or incite harm face removal.
Harmful Challenges
Some of the most concerning trends on TikTok are challenges that encourage dangerous or harmful behavior. One such challenge was the “blackout challenge,” which involved people choking themselves until they pass out. This highly risky activity has been linked to the deaths of several teenagers (source).
Another dangerous dare that emerged on TikTok was the “skull breaker challenge,” in which people have their legs kicked out from under them while jumping, causing them to land on their heads. This challenge resulted in serious injuries for many participants, including concussions and seizures (source).
The “coronavirus challenge” involved people licking random objects and surfaces in public places during the pandemic, potentially spreading disease. Other challenges have encouraged people to eat Tide Pods, snort condoms, or set themselves on fire – all risky behaviors that can lead to injury or death.
While some may see these as harmless pranks, dangerous challenges can have tragic real-world consequences. TikTok users should avoid participating in or sharing any activities that could put people’s safety and lives at risk.
Misinformation
Misinformation and disinformation spread rapidly on TikTok and can have serious consequences. As a platform optimized for short videos that quickly capture attention, TikTok makes it easy for misleading or false claims to go viral before fact checkers can verify them.
For example, according to the New York Times, manipulated videos of politicians, known as deepfakes, are proliferating on TikTok and warping reality. These videos splice together images and audio to make it appear that someone said or did something they didn’t.1 Even though they are fake, many viewers believe them to be real.
Likewise, a CNN investigation found that nearly 20% of videos surfaced by TikTok’s search feature contained misinformation about topics like COVID-19, U.S. elections, the war in Ukraine, and more.2 False narratives can easily hijack engagement algorithms and be recommended to millions without warning labels or fact-checking.
The rapid spread of misinformation on TikTok can negatively impact public health, erode trust in institutions, and even incite violence. As a user, it’s important to think critically about the authenticity of videos and exercise caution before reposting unverified content.
Explicit Content
TikTok prohibits explicit content, including “nudity, pornography, or sexually explicit content” according to their Community Guidelines. Users are not permitted to post videos or images containing nudity or sexual acts. TikTok’s guidelines also forbid the depiction of sexual intercourse and “overtly sexual content”
TikTok aims to maintain a safe environment, so any content containing adult themes or activities is prohibited, including “visible genitalia, visible anus or buttocks, sexual activities, arousal, orgasm, etc.” The platform restricts users from posting graphic content to protect younger viewers.
Videos that are considered too sexually suggestive or contain revealing clothing may also be removed. TikTok moderators enforce these rules by age-restricting or removing inappropriate content.
Harassment and Bullying
TikTok has a major issue with harassment and bullying on the platform. Cyberbullying is rampant, with 64% of TikTok users reporting being cyberbullied. This can include hurtful comments, abusive messages, mocking, gossiping, impersonation, exclusion, and threats. TikTok’s comment section often facilitates bullying, where users gang up on an individual.
Creating diss tracks, reaction videos, duets, and stitches targeting a specific person can also enable harassment. Sharing private information or photos of someone without consent is another form of cyberbullying. Some users send inappropriate or disturbing content directly to people they wish to harass.
The effects of online bullying can be severe, leading to anxiety, depression, and even suicide in extreme cases. Organizations like CyberSmile provide hotlines and support for harassment victims. TikTok should prioritize user safety and take swift action to remove abusive content and accounts.
Dangerous Activities
Many TikTok challenges involve dangerous stunts, dares, or pranks that can put people’s safety at risk. For example, the “skull breaker challenge” involves tripping someone so they fall backwards and hit their head on the ground (https://www.vumc.org/injuryprevention/tik-tok-dangerous-challenges-parents-be-watchful). Another dangerous dare is the “choking challenge” where participants hold their breath or choke themselves with belts or ties until they pass out due to lack of oxygen (https://www.talkitoutnc.org/dangerous-tiktok-challenges/). Some youth have even died from dangerous challenges like these. Posting or participating inactivities that risk serious injury or death should be avoided on TikTok.
Copyrighted Material
Posting copyrighted content like songs, videos, or images without permission is a violation of copyright law and should be avoided on TikTok (Source). TikTok has a copyright reporting system that allows rights holders to submit takedown requests for infringing content (Source). If you do not have permission to use copyrighted material, do not post it on your TikTok account. This includes using snippets of copyrighted songs, posting clips from TV shows and movies, using photos taken by others, and more. Stick to original content you created or licensed material you have explicit permission to use. TikTok provides copyright information and takedown instructions to help users avoid infringing on others’ intellectual property rights (Source).
Private Information
Sharing personal details without consent is unethical and can put people at risk. Posting someone’s contact information, addresses, or other private details without permission should be avoided on TikTok. This includes not just private details of adults, but also of minors. According to privacy experts and child safety organizations[1], minors may not fully comprehend the potential consequences and long-term impact of having private details exposed on TikTok.
Users should be thoughtful about what they share about others online. While some details may seem harmless, they could enable stalking, identity theft, or other harms. TikTok’s community guidelines prohibit publishing other people’s private information and users can report content that violates this policy.
Scams
TikTok users should avoid promoting fraudulent business practices or giveaways that seem too good to be true. The FTC recently warned influencers about promoting alcohol brands without proper disclosures (https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/11/ftc-warns-two-trade-associations-dozen-influencers-about-social-media-posts-promoting-consumption). Giveaways or contests promising expensive prizes in exchange for minor actions like liking, sharing, or following are common scam tactics on social platforms. Users should be wary of deals that seem suspicious and report them if necessary.
Inappropriate Hashtags
Using inappropriate or unrelated hashtags is a common mistake on TikTok. Some users hijack popular hashtags by using them improperly to try and gain more views. But this is considered hashtag misuse and can get your content removed or your account banned. According to Digital Marketer, some examples of hashtag misuse include using irrelevant hashtags or using banned hashtags like #hatespeech or # nsfw 1. The key is to use hashtags relevant to your content and niche. Research which hashtags are popular in your industry, but avoid hijacking them if they don’t truly relate to your video.
