TikTok is a popular short-form video app that has over 1 billion monthly active users globally. The app allows users to create and share videos up to 3 minutes long. One of the core features of TikTok is the ability for users to “follow” other accounts, which makes their videos appear in your main feed.
The following feature allows users to subscribe to creators they like and build a tailored feed of content. When you follow someone, their new videos will automatically show up in your For You feed. Following is meant to be an easy, seamless way for TikTok users to connect with each other and curate the content they see.
Explanation of the TikTok Following Feature
The following feature on TikTok allows users to subscribe to the content from other accounts. By following another user, their videos will show up in your “For You” feed. This is one of the main ways that TikTok surfaces new content and creators to its users [1].
The purpose of the following feature is to allow users to customize their feed and see content from creators that they like. It also helps creators build an audience and get their videos viewed. Following is meant to be an easy way to stay updated on new content from your favorite TikTokers [2].
Common Following Issues
Many TikTok users have reported issues with the platform’s following feature not working as expected. Two of the most common problems are the follow button not working properly and users getting unexpectedly unfollowed from accounts.
The follow button is a key way to connect with creators and topics you’re interested in on TikTok. However, sometimes when users tap the follow button on a profile, the button may not change to “Following” as it should. Instead, it remains stuck on “Follow”, even after multiple tries. This makes it appear like you aren’t actually following that account, even if you are.
“No matter how many times I tap the Follow button on some profiles, it just won’t change to Following. It’s so frustrating because I want to make sure I see posts from those accounts,” said one user experiencing the issue on Reddit.
Another annoying problem is getting unexpectedly unfollowed from accounts you want to stay connected to. Some users have reported that even though they distinctly remember following a creator, later on they’ll notice they’ve been unfollowed without realizing it.
“I definitely remember following my favorite cooking channel on TikTok. But then I went to their profile last week, and the button said Follow instead of Following. It’s like I got unfollowed for some reason,” explained a perplexed user.
These types of following glitches can be frustrating for TikTok fans who rely on staying updated from their favorite accounts. TikTok does seem to be aware of the issues based on updates they’ve rolled out to improve following, but problems still occasionally persist.
Why the Follow Feature May Not Work
There are a few key reasons why TikTok’s follow feature seems to not be working properly for many users:
One major issue is bugs in TikTok’s algorithm that controls the follow feature. As a complex piece of code working at enormous scale, it is prone to glitches that inadvertently unfollow accounts or prevent new follows. Errors in the algorithm can cause follows and unfollows to happen out of nowhere without user intention.
Problems with notifications and updates related to following are also common, according to users. Even if an account is successfully followed, the user may not receive notifications or see updates from newly followed accounts. This makes it seem like the follow action did not work, when in fact it was successful on the back-end.
Finally, some issues are likely tied to server and capacity problems at TikTok. With billions of users, spikes in traffic can strain infrastructure and cause follows to fail to register properly. The servers may show follows working despite back-end issues actually preventing them from going through.
As TikTok engineers note, they are working to bolster systems and fix bugs, but with such a massive userbase, follow issues are likely to persist intermittently.
TikTok Acknowledges the Issues
TikTok has acknowledged some of the problems with its following feature through public statements. In an August 2020 press release, TikTok said it was aware of “technical issues” affecting follower counts and promised to “continue working on improvements designed to create the best experience for our users” (Statement on the Administration’s Executive Order).
More recently, TikTok admitted again that some users may experience issues with follower counts and promised to fix them. A TikTok spokesperson said the company is “aware of an issue that is causing some users to have trouble with follows and unfollows” and that their engineering teams are working quickly to resolve it (Integrity and Authenticity – Community Guidelines).
While TikTok has not provided details on what is causing the widespread issues with following, the company acknowledges ongoing problems and is working to improve the stability of this key feature.
Workarounds
There are some steps users can try to troubleshoot following issues on TikTok:
- Log out and log back in – This refreshes the account and can help resolve following problems. Simply close the app, reopen it, and log back in.
- Update the app – Make sure you’re running the latest version of TikTok, as updates may contain bug fixes.
- Clear the app cache – On Android, go to Settings > Apps > TikTok > Storage > Clear Cache. On iOS, delete and reinstall the app.
- Restart your device – Turn your phone off completely and then back on again.
To manage who you follow more easily, use TikTok’s Following Manager under Settings > Manage My Account > Following Manager. Here you can view everyone you follow in one place and unfollow people more conveniently.
You can also visit profiles directly and tap the Follow button again to unfollow accounts.
Effects on Content Creators
The issues with the follow feature can have a significant impact on content creators on TikTok. When a user follows a creator, they would expect to see that creator’s new videos in their feed. However, because of the glitches, creators’ new videos are not showing up for many of their followers.
This means creators are likely getting lower views and engagement on their videos. For creators who rely on TikTok for income or reaching an audience, lower views can be incredibly discouraging and frustrating. It essentially means their hard work creating videos is not being seen by a large portion of their intended audience.
Many creators have expressed disappointment and irritation with the follow feature not working properly. They have actively built up followers under the assumption that following a creator would allow you to see their content. But now followers are not being notified of new videos as intended.
This glitch has made it much more difficult for creators to retain viewers, build their audience, and get their work seen. For an app like TikTok that relies so heavily on algorithms, creators want to ensure their followers actually see their newly uploaded content. But the technical issues have prevented creators from fully capitalizing on the follow feature.
Effects on Users
Many users have expressed frustration with the following issues because it prevents them from seeing content from accounts they follow. When a user’s following list disappears or doesn’t update properly, they miss out on videos, trends, and creators they wanted to watch. This ruins the main TikTok experience of scrolling through a personalized “For You” feed.
The following problems also make it difficult for users to discover new accounts to follow. Usually, TikTok suggests new accounts based on who you already follow and what content you engage with. But if the platform can’t properly track following relationships, these recommendations get messed up. Users are then stuck in a bubble of the same accounts rather than discovering new creators that match their interests.
Long-term Implications
The issues with TikTok’s follow feature could have damaging long-term implications for the platform and its users. If the problems persist, it could seriously hurt TikTok’s reputation as a viable social media platform.
One concerning outcome is that frustrated users may start migrating to other platforms that have more reliable follow features, such as YouTube, Instagram or Snapchat. A survey by The Guardian found that over half of teen users in the UK consider cutting down on using TikTok or quitting it altogether due to mental health concerns exacerbated by issues like the follow feature problems. If enough loyal users abandon TikTok, it could substantially impact the app’s growth and sustainability.
TikTok risks developing a reputation as an unreliable platform if core features like following don’t work consistently. This could make attracting and retaining content creators more difficult in the long run. Creators want an audience that reliably follows them and engages with their content. If TikTok can’t provide that, creators may look to other platforms that offer a more dependable experience.
Overall, TikTok needs to address the follow feature issues to maintain trust in its platform. If problems linger too long, it could have detrimental impacts on TikTok’s reputation, user base, and content creator community over time.
Conclusion
In summary, there are a variety of issues that prevent the TikTok following feature from working properly. The main problems seem to stem from bugs and glitches in the TikTok app that cause follows to not register or unfollows to occur unintentionally. TikTok has acknowledged these technical problems but does not seem to have fully resolved them yet.
For the follow feature to work effectively, TikTok needs to fix the persistent glitches and bugs that affect follows and unfollows. They need to improve their systems and infrastructure to handle the massive user base and prevent technical issues. More transparency from TikTok on the problems would also help users understand why the issues occur.
The outlook for the follow feature is dependent on TikTok’s ability to address the underlying causes. If they can smooth out the technical difficulties, the feature has great potential to connect users with the content and creators they want to see. But without solving the bugs and glitches, the inconsistencies around following will continue to frustrate both users and creators.
