We’ve all been there – you post an amazing TikTok video that you spent hours creating, perfecting, and promoting, only to find it’s vanished without a trace the next day. Where did it go? Unfortunately, disappearing TikTok videos are a common frustration among creators. There are several potential reasons your TikTok video may have gone missing. This guide will explore why videos disappear and provide tips to recover or prevent your content from being removed.
Why TikTok Videos Disappear
There are a few main reasons why TikTok may remove or restrict access to your videos:
Copyright Violations
TikTok has automated systems that scan videos for copyrighted music, images, or other content. Using copyrighted material without permission can result in your video being taken down. This is one of the most common reasons TikTok removes videos (source).
Community Guidelines
TikTok has strict community guidelines against nudity, harassment, dangerous acts, and other prohibited content. Videos get removed if they are flagged for violating these guidelines. Sometimes the automated review system makes mistakes in assessing violations (source).
Geo-restrictions
Some videos get geo-restricted if the content is deemed inappropriate or illegal in certain countries and regions. The video may still be available in some places but restricted in others.
Copyright Violations
One of the most common reasons for TikTok to remove a video is due to copyright violations. Using copyrighted music, videos, images or any other material without permission in your TikTok videos can lead to takedowns.
According to TikTok’s copyright policy, if you use someone else’s creative work without authorization, the copyright owner can submit a takedown request, leading to the removal of your video. This includes using short clips, quotes, or background music from copyrighted sources [1].
TikTok has a copyright reporting tool that allows copyright owners to easily request takedowns if their material is used without permission. So you risk getting your videos removed if you incorporate unlicensed content [2].
To avoid copyright issues, only use original content you created yourself. If you want to legally use copyrighted material, seek permission from the owner first. Be careful not to unintentionally use short clips of copyrighted videos or songs in the background that could trigger a takedown.
Community Guidelines
TikTok has a set of Community Guidelines that spell out the types of content and behavior that are not allowed on the platform. Violating these guidelines can result in a video being removed or an account being suspended or banned (Content violations and bans | TikTok Help Center).
Some of the main reasons a video may be removed for violating Community Guidelines include:
- Inappropriate content – Videos with nudity, pornography, or sexually explicit content will be taken down.
- Dangerous challenges – TikTok prohibits challenges that promote or glorify dangerous acts that may lead to injury.
- Misinformation – Videos spreading falsehoods, conspiracy theories, or unverified rumors may be removed.
Users should carefully review TikTok’s Community Guidelines to understand what type of content is not permitted on the platform. Posting videos that clearly violate the rules increases the likelihood of removal and account penalties.
Geo-restrictions
TikTok allows creators to geo-target their content to specific countries or regions. This means a video can be made available only in certain locations. According to TikTok’s support page, “geo-targeting gives creators more control over their audience and opens opportunities to connect with niche communities around the world.”
There are a few reasons TikTok creators may want to geo-target their content:
- Complying with local laws and regulations – Some types of content may be allowed in some countries but restricted in others. Geo-targeting can help creators avoid legal issues.
- Reaching a local audience – Targeting content by country allows creators to make region-specific content that resonates better with local viewers.
- Controlling brand messaging – Companies may want to limit their TikTok presence and promotions to countries where they actively do business.
TikTok also imposes its own country-level restrictions, preventing certain content from being shown in selected markets. As reported by AP News, TikTok is currently fully or partially banned in several countries including India, Pakistan, and Indonesia. Videos uploaded in these regions may have limited visibility.
So in summary, geo-targeting allows manual control over content visibility by country but TikTok may also impose its own geographic restrictions on videos.
Appealing TikTok Takedowns
If your TikTok video is removed for a copyright or community guideline violation, you can appeal the decision directly within the app. Here’s how:
For copyright violations, go to your profile and tap on the video that was taken down. There should be a prompt to “Appeal this video.” Select that option and follow the on-screen instructions to submit your appeal. You’ll need to explain why you believe your video falls under fair use and does not infringe copyright. TikTok will review your appeal and make a final decision.
To appeal community guideline violations, go to your profile, tap the video that was removed, and look for the “Appeal this video” option. Select it and explain why you think the content does not violate guidelines. Provide as much detail as possible. You may need to go through an automated bot appeal first before reaching a human moderator for review. The process can take several days.
According to this Reddit thread, some workarounds include uninstalling/reinstalling the app and trying again, or logging in from another device. But in most cases, patience and persistence are key in getting your appeal reviewed. TikTok does not provide much transparency into the appeals process, so continue to submit tickets until you get a resolution.
Avoiding Takedowns
You can avoid having your videos taken down on TikTok by following some best practices around copyright and community guidelines:
For copyright, avoid using full-length songs in your videos unless you have explicit permission from the rights holder. Stick to short clips of songs or use songs that are already available in TikTok’s audio library. Also be cautious about using audio from other videos or sources without permission (Source).
To comply with community guidelines, avoid posting content that is sexually explicit, graphically violent, hateful, or dangerous/illegal. You can read TikTok’s detailed community guidelines to understand what type of content is not allowed. Additionally, avoid spamming, impersonation, and other behaviors that violate TikTok’s terms of service (Source).
If you are ever notified that your video was removed, be sure to read the reason carefully. Adjust your posting strategy going forward to avoid repeated violations. Having multiple violations can lead to permanent bans.
Recovering Deleted Videos
Once a TikTok video is deleted, either by the user or by TikTok itself, unfortunately there is no way to recover it through the TikTok app according to sources.
If you delete a video yourself, it is permanently gone from your account and cannot be retrieved as stated in this article: https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/can-you-recover-deleted-tiktok-videos-2083777/
Likewise, if TikTok removes your video for a terms of service violation, you cannot recover or reinstate it after deletion. As explained here: https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/us/tiktok-videos-how-to-recover-deleted-videos-heres-everything-you-should-know/articleshow/101602404.cms
The TikTok app does not have a feature to restore or undelete removed videos. Once a video is gone, it is unfortunately no longer accessible through official means.
Video Visibility Issues
Even if your video doesn’t get removed for violating policies, there are some other common reasons your TikTok videos may not be getting views:
Your video may be experiencing issues with the TikTok algorithm. The algorithm controls what videos are shown to users. If your video is not resonating with viewers, it may not be pushed out as widely by the algorithm. Using strong metadata, captions, hashtags, trends, and engaging content that matches user interests can help.
Your account or video may be “shadowbanned.” This is when TikTok limits your reach without notifying you. This could happen if you violated a policy, got mass reported, or did something deemed suspicious like buying fake views. Appealing to TikTok support may help.
You may be using banned hashtags or sounds. TikTok routinely bans certain hashtags or music tracks. Using these can restrict you from coming up in searches or recommendations.
Your followers aren’t being notified. Issues with notifications can prevent your followers from seeing your new videos in their feed. Double-checking notification settings and checking if your followers are having issues may help identify notification problems.
You posted at a bad time. Peak viewing hours on TikTok are in the evenings and on weekends. Posting during lower traffic times means fewer initial views for the algorithm to pick up on.
Your content style changed. If you suddenly switch up your content style, your existing audience may not engage as much. Consider modifying your content so it aligns with your audience’s interests and expectations.
Conclusion
To recap, there are a few main reasons why your TikTok video may have disappeared or become invisible to other users:
– Your video was removed for violating copyright law, community guidelines, or geo-restrictions.
– Your video is still available on your profile but the algorithm is limiting its reach and visibility.
– You accidentally deleted the video yourself.
To avoid takedowns and keep your videos up, be sure to follow all TikTok rules and guidelines. Only post original content you created yourself. Credit any music, images or clips properly. Avoid overly sexual, violent, dangerous or hateful content. And review the app’s community guidelines to understand what type of content is not allowed.
It’s also a good idea to download and back up your videos offline in case they are removed from TikTok. That way you’ll always have access to your own creative work.
With some common sense and care when posting, you can minimize the chances of your video being taken down or made invisible on TikTok.
