TikTok is a popular short-form video app that allows users to follow other accounts to see their content. Following others on TikTok enables you to view videos from creators you like in your For You feed. It also allows you to view the content of accounts you follow in the Following feed.
TikTok has over 1 billion monthly active users, and following other accounts is a core part of the experience. Users can follow friends, family, celebrities, brands, influencers, and more. Following others allows you to curate a customized feed of content based on your interests and preferences.
However, sometimes users encounter issues with following others on TikTok. There are various reasons why you may not be able to follow someone, ranging from restrictions to bugs. Understanding the potential causes can help troubleshoot and fix following issues on TikTok.
Account Restrictions
TikTok may restrict accounts for violating its community guidelines or terms of service (https://www.tiktok.com/community-guidelines?lang=en). Common reasons for suspensions include inappropriate content, spam, illegal activities, copyright infringement, dangerous acts or threats of violence, impersonation, and underage use (https://ads.tiktok.com/help/article/account-suspensions?lang=en).
Suspended accounts show a banner indicating “your account has been suspended.” You cannot log in or access the account. Suspensions may last from a few hours to an indefinite period depending on the violation. TikTok may also permanently ban accounts for severe or repeat offenses.
To appeal a suspension, submit a customer support ticket through the app notification or TikTok Ads Manager. Provide details explaining why the suspension was unwarranted. TikTok reviews appeals and may reinstate accounts if the violation is unconfirmed (https://support.tiktok.com/en/safety-hc/account-and-user-safety/account-safety).
Age Restrictions
TikTok implements certain restrictions and limitations based on a user’s age, in order to comply with COPPA regulations and provide age-appropriate experiences.
Users under the age of 13 are not allowed to create TikTok accounts according to their Terms of Service. If TikTok discovers an account belonging to someone under 13, they will delete the account.
For users ages 13-15, TikTok automatically enables Restricted Mode, which limits the appearance of content that may not be appropriate for younger audiences. Direct messaging is also disabled for this age group. Additionally, since March 2023, all accounts for 13-15 year olds have a 60 minute daily screen time limit enabled by default according to TikTok’s recent announcement.
Region Restrictions
TikTok applies certain regional restrictions that prevent users in some countries from accessing the full TikTok experience. The most notable restriction is in China where TikTok operates a separate, censored version called Douyin. Users within mainland China can only access Douyin and not the international version of TikTok.
Other countries like India and Pakistan have had TikTok banned or restricted at various times for security and data privacy concerns. When TikTok is unavailable in a country, users will be unable to access TikTok or follow other accounts. They may see an error message about the app not being available in their region.
If you are traveling abroad and can no longer access TikTok normally, a VPN service can be used to bypass geographic restrictions and make it appear as if you are accessing TikTok from a different country. However, this violates TikTok’s terms of service.
According to Cybernews, “A VPN will allow you to connect to the country and its server of your choice and will also provide you with an IP address from that country or region, thus changing your virtual location.” But it’s important to note that bypassing regional restrictions violates TikTok’s terms and could potentially lead to an account ban.
Privacy Settings
One reason you may not be able to follow someone on TikTok is due to that user’s privacy settings. TikTok allows users to make their accounts either public or private (Choosing between a private or public account). With a public account, anyone can follow you without approval. But with a private account, users must approve each follower request.
So if you try following someone with a private account and they do not accept your request, you will be unable to view their profile or content. Users with private accounts can limit who can interact with them for privacy and security reasons. You may need to try sending another follow request if they accidentally rejected you or wait for the user to change their settings to public.
Shadowbanning
One reason you may not be able to follow anyone on TikTok is if your account has been shadowbanned. Shadowbanning is when TikTok restricts your account’s visibility and reach without notifying you.
TikTok may shadowban accounts that violate community guidelines or terms of service, such as by spamming, bullying, or posting offensive content. When shadowbanned, your profile and videos will have limited distribution. You may not show up in hashtags or account searches. Your posts will not reach as many people.
Shadowbanning also restricts your ability to interact with other accounts. You may not be able to follow new people, comment on videos, or receive notifications. TikTok does this to limit your engagement while reviewing if you should be allowed back on the platform.
According to sources, the shadowban is temporary for most accounts. It may last from a few hours to a few weeks depending on the severity of violations. The ban is lifted once TikTok determines you are not a risk to the community.
To get your full account access back, avoid posting rule-breaking content. Engage positively with others when you are able to. You can also appeal the shadowban if you believe it was a mistake. Contact TikTok support for help.
Bug or Glitch
Sometimes a bug or glitch in the TikTok app can temporarily prevent users from being able to follow other accounts. This is often just a technical issue on TikTok’s end, not the user’s account.
A recent Reddit thread described users encountering a bug where they were unable to follow any new accounts (source). Restarting the app, logging out and back in, or deleting and reinstalling the app can sometimes resolve temporary glitches like this.
Issues following other accounts could also arise from problems on TikTok’s end when rolling out app updates. It’s generally recommended to keep the TikTok app updated to the latest version in case that resolves any bugs preventing users from following accounts.
Overall, if the issue is caused by a bug or glitch, it should only be temporary. Trying the troubleshooting steps above or waiting for TikTok to patch any issues can typically resolve problems with following other accounts caused by app errors.
Network Errors
One common reason you may not be able to follow people on TikTok is if you are experiencing network errors or connectivity issues on your device. This could occur if your wifi or cellular data connection is spotty or disconnected. You may see an error message in the app saying “No Internet Connection” or “Network Unavailable.”
First, check that your wifi is connected and functioning properly. Try toggling your wifi on and off or reconnect to the network. You can also try switching to cellular data if you are on wifi or vice versa. Restart your phone or tablet as well, as this can reset the network connection.
If the issues persist, it could point to a larger network problem on TikTok’s end. According to TikTok’s Help Center, you can check the TikTok Server Status page to see if there are any known issues with connectivity.
As a workaround, some users have had success using a VPN to access TikTok during network outages. The VPN allows you to channel your connection through a different network that may be more stable.
Overall, network errors are often temporary but can prevent actions like following other users until connectivity is restored. Check your own connection first, then monitor TikTok for ongoing issues.
How to Fix
If you find you are unable to follow other TikTok users, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try to resolve the issue:
First, make sure your app is fully updated to the latest version. Open your profile, go to the settings menu and check for any available updates (cite: TikTok Support). Installing the latest update may fix bugs that are preventing you from following others.
You can also try logging out and back into your TikTok account. Close the app completely, restart your device, then launch TikTok and sign in again. This refreshes your login session and syncs your account, which could potentially fix follow glitches (cite: Reddit r/Tiktokhelp).
Check that your internet connection is stable, as network errors can sometimes interfere with following other users. Try following users while connected to a different wifi network or switch to mobile data. A stable connection ensures your follows properly register.
As a last resort, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling the TikTok app. This gives your account a fresh start which may resolve quirky follow issues. Just be sure to backup any videos or data first.
If you still can’t follow others after trying these tips, you’ll need to contact TikTok support for further help.
When to Contact TikTok
If you have tried all the troubleshooting steps and are still unable to follow other accounts on TikTok, it’s time to reach out to TikTok support for additional help. There are a few ways you can contact TikTok:
Use the in-app reporting feature:
- Open the TikTok app and go to your profile page
- Tap the three dots in the top right corner
- Select “Report a Problem” and fill out the form with details about the issue
Visit the TikTok support site:
- Go to https://support.tiktok.com/en
- Select the issue category that best fits your problem
- Follow the instructions to submit a request for help
Contact TikTok support directly:
- Find regional contact info at https://www.tiktok.com/about/contact
- Call or email TikTok support with details about the inability to follow accounts
A TikTok representative should respond and provide specialized troubleshooting tips or account assistance. Persistently engaging with their support team is key to resolving stubborn technical issues.
