A new TikTok account not allowing you to follow other users is a common issue many people face when first joining the platform. There are a few potential reasons why TikTok may restrict your ability to follow other accounts from a new profile.
This article will provide an overview of the most likely causes and solutions if your new TikTok account is not letting you follow anyone. We’ll explore account age restrictions, violations of TikTok’s rules, glitches, maximum follow limits, private account settings, and steps you can take like contacting support, updating the app, and trying to follow from the web.
Account Age Restrictions
TikTok imposes certain restrictions and limits on brand new accounts as a safety measure. As reported on TikTok’s User Safety page, direct messaging is automatically disabled for accounts under 16 years old. Additionally, TikTok announced in a press release that accounts for users under 18 will have a 60-minute daily screen time limit enabled by default.
These types of restrictions mean very new accounts may not be able to access all features right away, such as following other users. TikTok likely imposes these initial limits as a precautionary measure for brand new accounts, to prevent misuse by bots or bad actors before an account is properly established.
The good news is that with some time and proper use, these restrictions are usually lifted automatically once TikTok recognizes an account is being used legitimately by a genuine user. Spending some time engaging with content, posting original videos, and building up followers should eventually lead to lifted restrictions. Just be patient during the initial account building phase.
Violation of TikTok Rules
One reason your new TikTok account may not be allowing you to follow other accounts is if you have violated TikTok’s community guidelines. According to TikTok’s support article, accounts can be restricted or suspended for violating content policies such as posting illegal, dangerous, or hateful content.
If your account has been suspended, you will see a banner indicating “your account has been suspended.” This means you have likely broken one of TikTok’s rules and your account abilities have been limited as a result. Suspended accounts have restrictions placed on them like not being able to post, comment, follow, or interact with other accounts.
Before appealing a suspended account, TikTok recommends reviewing their community guidelines to understand what content is not allowed. You can then submit an appeal through the app by tapping the “Appeal” button on the suspension notification. TikTok will review your appeal and decide whether to remove the restrictions.
Glitch or Bug
Sometimes a glitch or bug in the TikTok app can prevent you from following other users. This seems to be a relatively common issue that crops up from time to time, especially after TikTok releases an app update. According to users on Reddit, a TikTok glitch sometimes prevents following or automatically unfollows people right after following them (Source). This appears tied to tech issues rather than account restrictions. The glitch may not let you follow certain accounts specifically, or prevent following entirely. Often, closing and reopening the app or logging out and back in can provide a temporary fix. However, the issue usually persists until TikTok resolves the glitch on their end, which may take some time. If you experience a bug preventing following others, know that you’ll likely just need to wait it out rather than taking action on your end. TikTok bugs tend to resolve within a few days or weeks.
Maximum Follow Limit
TikTok enforces a maximum limit on the number of accounts a user can follow. According to sources, this limit is around 10,000 followers [1]. Once an account reaches the 10,000 follow limit, TikTok will prevent the account from following additional users. This restriction is likely in place to prevent spamming and automated bot accounts. If a new TikTok account is unable to follow others, it’s possible the user has simply reached the platform’s maximum follow limit already.
Some users may receive a notification saying “Limit Reached” when attempting to follow more accounts after hitting the 10,000 limit. The only way to follow more accounts is to first unfollow some existing followed accounts to free up space under the limit. This 10,000 ceiling applies to all TikTok accounts and cannot be increased.
Private Account Settings
One potential reason that you may not be able to follow other users is if your TikTok account has been set to private (according to this TikTok support article). When an account is set to private, only approved followers can view the account’s content and interact with it.
To check if your account is set to private: open your profile page, tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner, choose “Settings and privacy”, then select “Privacy”. Here you will see an option to turn your account private on or off. If it is currently set to private, toggle the switch off to make your account public.
With a public account, you should then be able to search for other users and follow them normally. Note that other users with private accounts will still need to approve your follow request for you to see their content.
Contact TikTok Support
If you are still unable to follow other accounts after trying the troubleshooting tips, it’s best to reach out to TikTok directly for assistance. TikTok has a help center with various contact options:
You can submit a request through their online help center. This allows you to specify your issue and attach screenshots or videos showing the problem. TikTok aims to respond within 1-2 business days.
There is also an option to start a live chat with a TikTok support agent. The live chat is available daily from 9am – 6pm PST. This is the quickest way to get direct assistance.
You can also find region-specific phone numbers and email addresses on their contact page. TikTok recommends reaching out via email for account-related issues.
When contacting TikTok support directly, be sure to provide your username, email, phone number, and any other relevant details. Explain the issue clearly and include any error messages you are seeing. With their help, you should be able to resolve the follow restriction on your new account.
Update the App
Sometimes not being able to follow others on TikTok can be caused by having an outdated version of the app. TikTok frequently releases new versions of the app to fix bugs and introduce new features. If you haven’t updated the TikTok app in a while, you may be running an old version with issues that prevent you from following other users.
To update the TikTok app on iOS, go to the App Store, tap your profile icon in the top right, and pull down to refresh. If there is an Update button next to TikTok, tap it to update to the latest version. On Android, open the Google Play Store, go to the My Apps & Games section, and check if TikTok has an Update button. Tap it to update.
Once you’ve updated to the latest TikTok version, try following other users again. Often a simple app update can resolve odd issues like not being able to follow others. Make sure to keep your apps updated in general to have the best experience.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/Tiktokhelp/comments/xt19xa/i_cant_follow_anyone_on_tiktok/
Try Following from Web
If you are unable to follow other users from the TikTok mobile app, try using the web version of TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/ as a workaround. The web version may not have the same restrictions or issues preventing you from following other accounts.
To follow someone on TikTok from the web version:
- Go to https://www.tiktok.com/ and log into your account
- Search for the profile of the user you want to follow
- Click the “Follow” button on their profile
Following other users from the web version has resolved this issue for some users, as mentioned in this Reddit thread. The web version may not have the same technical restrictions or bugs preventing you from following others.
If you are still unable to follow others from the web version, contact TikTok support for further assistance in resolving the issue.
Conclusion
There are a few key reasons why new TikTok accounts might not be able to follow other users, including age restrictions, violating community guidelines, technical issues, or hitting maximum follow limits. To troubleshoot, first make sure you meet the minimum age requirement and follow TikTok’s rules. Try updating the app, logging in on web, or contacting TikTok support if the issues persist. With a little patience and effort, your new account should be able to start following others in no time.
In summary, be aware of any restrictions based on your age or location when setting up a new TikTok profile. Avoid spamming follows or otherwise violating TikTok’s community guidelines so your actions aren’t mistaken for bot behavior. Technical glitches can occasionally prevent new accounts from following as expected, so try basic troubleshooting like reinstalling the app or logging in from a browser. You may simply need to use TikTok for a short period before follow capabilities are fully enabled. If problems continue, reach out to TikTok support for assistance getting your new account on track.
