TikTok is a popular short-form video app that allows users to create, edit, and share 15-second to 3-minute videos. With over 1 billion monthly active users, TikTok has become one of the fastest growing social media platforms.
When posting a new video on TikTok, users expect it to be visible to their followers and potentially reach the “For You” page for wider viewership. However, sometimes a video is successfully posted but no one is able to see it.
There are several main reasons why a posted TikTok video may not be visible to others:
- The video is still processing
- The video violates community guidelines
- The account is shadowbanned
- Restricted mode is enabled
- Account violation or ban
- Video marked as “Not Interested”
- Age restriction
- Copyright violation
This overview examines the most common issues that can cause a posted TikTok video to not show up for other users.
Video is Still Processing
One common reason a TikTok video may be uploaded but not visible to others is that it is still being processed. According to FlexClip, uploading and processing a video on TikTok takes some time. After uploading, the video usually goes into a review process that can take around 30 minutes. Only after this review is completed will the video be made publicly visible.
As WinX DVD explains, videos need to be processed by TikTok before they can appear on your profile and be seen by others. This processing ensures the video meets TikTok’s community guidelines and terms of service. Depending on factors like video length and quality, processing can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. If your video remains stuck processing for an extended time, you may need to re-upload it.
Overall, allowing time for video processing is normal on TikTok. If your video is still processing after an hour or so, try restarting the app, re-uploading the video, or checking TikTok’s server status. In most cases, your video should finish processing and become visible to others within a reasonable timeframe.
Violates Community Guidelines
TikTok reviews all videos uploaded against its Community Guidelines to maintain a safe and positive environment. These guidelines prohibit certain types of content like nudity, hate speech, dangerous acts, violence, illegal activities, and more. If your video contains any violations, TikTok may limit its visibility or remove it entirely.
According to TikTok’s latest Community Guidelines Enforcement Report, over 10 million videos were removed in Q2 2021 for violations. So if your video is not appearing for others, it may have been flagged for inappropriate content. TikTok does allow appealing guideline violations, so you can request a review if you believe the decision was a mistake.
Shadowbanned by TikTok
Shadowbanning is when TikTok limits the visibility of an account or content without the user knowing. It can happen if TikTok’s algorithms deem the account or content as low-quality, repetitive, spam, or against community guidelines [1].
There are a few types of shadowbanning on TikTok:
- Hashtag shadowban – Your videos don’t show up under specific hashtags you use
- Account shadowban – Your entire account has reduced visibility
- Video shadowban – A specific video is not shown to many users
Shadowbanning prevents your content from being shown to most users on their For You feeds. It acts as a “soft” ban before fully disabling an account. Some reasons TikTok may shadowban an account include [2]:
- Posting too frequently
- Using copyrighted music or content
- Using banned hashtags or keywords
- Automated behavior like excessive commenting
- Linking out to prohibited sites
The best way to get rid of a shadowban is to improve the quality of your content and remain compliant with all TikTok guidelines. It can take days or weeks for a shadowban to lift on its own.
[1] https://megadigital.ai/en/blog/tiktok-shadowban/
[2] https://www.socialchamp.io/blog/tiktok-shadowban/
Restricted Mode is On
TikTok’s Restricted Mode allows users to limit the appearance of potentially mature or objectionable content. When Restricted Mode is enabled, content that is identified by TikTok’s systems as inappropriate will not be shown.
Restricted Mode works by filtering content based on various signals – the video’s tags, metadata, captions, and visual contents are analyzed. If anything inappropriate is detected, the video will be removed from your feed.
To turn Restricted Mode on or off:
- In the TikTok app, tap your Profile at the bottom.
- Tap the Menu button at the top.
- Tap Settings and Privacy.
- Tap Content Preferences.
- Tap Restricted Mode.
- Follow the steps in the app to set or enter a passcode to turn Restricted Mode on or off.[1]
Note that Restricted Mode may not catch every single video that some would find objectionable. But it aims to limit the appearance of mature content.
Account Violation or Ban
If your TikTok account has been flagged for violating community guidelines, your videos may become restricted. Violations like bullying, harassment, hate speech, spamming, or dangerous/illegal content can result in limits on your account’s capabilities.
TikTok may impose temporary bans for first-time violations. However, repeated or more serious infractions can lead to permanent termination of your account. If your account is banned, your videos will no longer be visible to other users.
To appeal a temporary ban, you can submit an appeal through the app. For permanent bans, you’d need to contact TikTok support and provide an explanation. However, permanent bans are difficult to overturn. It’s important to carefully follow community guidelines and avoid posting problematic content that could risk your account.
Sources:
https://support.tiktok.com/en/safety-hc/account-and-user-safety/content-violations-and-bans
https://www.quora.com/Why-did-my-TikTok-get-banned-I-haven-t-got-any-videos-posted-right-now-and-none-have-ever-been-taken-down-I-am-also-of-age-and-my-account-is-active
Video Marked as Not Interested
One potential reason your TikTok video may not be visible is if users have marked it as “Not Interested.” On TikTok, viewers can tap the “Not Interested” button on a video to stop seeing recommendations for that specific video in their feed. According to TikTok’s support page, “tapping Not Interested on a video will help us improve your recommendations” [1].
Once a user marks your video as “Not Interested,” it will no longer show up in recommendations or their Following feed for that account. Essentially, it prevents that specific video from being visible to users who have indicated they are not interested. However, marking a video this way does not unfollow or block your account overall. Your other videos will still show up normally to users who haven’t marked that specific video as disliked.
Unfortunately, there is no way to see exactly who has tapped “Not Interested” on your video or to undo it after the fact. According to Reddit users, the only option is to check your general analytics for a dip in traffic from recommendations [2]. So if you notice your views dropping, it may be because users are marking your video as not interested and opting out of seeing it.
Age Restriction
TikTok has age restrictions on certain content, videos, live streams, commenting, and messaging in order to provide age-appropriate experiences. According to TikTok’s content policy, some videos that contain mature or complex themes are restricted to viewers 18 years and older. To host a live stream, users must be at least 18 years old as well.
If your video has been age-restricted, it will have limited visibility and only users 18+ will be able to view it. TikTok states on their safety page that direct messaging is automatically disabled for registered users under 16. According to Common Sense Media, TikTok curates content and restricts functionality for younger audiences under 18 to provide age-appropriate experiences.
Copyright Violation
One potential reason your TikTok video was posted but no one can see it is due to a copyright violation. TikTok has automatic content detection systems that identify copyrighted music, visuals or other materials in videos. If your video contains copyrighted content without permission, TikTok may issue a copyright strike and restrict the video’s visibility.
According to TikTok’s Copyright policy, copyright strikes can restrict your video from being viewed publicly. The only people able to view a video with a copyright claim are the video’s creator and the claimant.
If you believe your video was mistakenly flagged for copyright, you can dispute the claim through TikTok’s dispute process. Providing counter-notifications with evidence of permission or fair use could potentially lead to the copyright claim being removed. This may restore your video’s visibility if it was indeed misidentified.
It’s important to avoid copyright infringement when posting videos to ensure full visibility. Seeking proper licenses for copyrighted materials or only using original content can prevent copyright claims from restricting your video’s reach.
Conclusion
In summary, there are several potential reasons why your TikTok video may have been posted but no one can see it:
- The video is still processing and hasn’t been made public yet. Simply wait for the processing to complete.
- The video violates TikTok’s community guidelines and has been removed. Review the guidelines and modify the video if needed.
- Your account has been shadowbanned, restricted, or banned by TikTok. Appeal the restriction if you believe it was a mistake.
- You have copyrighted content that was detected and blocked. Try removing any copyrighted music or visuals.
If your video remains unseen after troubleshooting, reach out to TikTok support for help diagnosing and resolving the issue. With patience and persistence, you should be able to get your video back on track and visible to viewers.
