TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion monthly active users. With so many people using TikTok, it’s common for users to encounter issues like accounts not showing up properly in searches or profiles not displaying content.
There are several potential reasons why a TikTok account may not be visible to others on the platform. It could be due to shadowbanning, violating community guidelines, infrequent posting, or even just a technical glitch.
In this article, we’ll explore the various reasons why a TikTok account may not show up and provide troubleshooting tips to help get your profile back up and running again.
Checking Your Settings
One common reason an account may not show up on TikTok is because of the account’s privacy settings. In your profile settings, check that your account is set to “Public” so that anyone can view your profile and videos. If your account is set to “Private”, your videos and account will only be visible to users you approve to follow you.
Additionally, make sure you have comments enabled for your videos. With comments disabled, your content may be less likely to be surfaced by TikTok’s recommendation algorithm. You can enable or disable comments in your privacy settings.
Also check that your account does not have restrictions enabled, such as limiting your account to users ages 18+. Restrictions can prevent your account from being discoverable by some users.
According to TikTok’s help documentation, you should also confirm your account does not have a ban on sharing, commenting, or live streaming. These restrictions can be identified and removed in your account settings (Source: https://support.tiktok.com/en/log-in-troubleshoot/troubleshooting).
Finally, clear your TikTok app’s cache and data which can fix issues caused by corrupt data. You can find these options in your device’s app settings for TikTok (Source: https://support.tiktok.com/en/log-in-troubleshoot/troubleshooting/first-steps).
Shadowbanning
Shadowbanning refers to when TikTok automatically restricts a user’s content reach and discoverability without notifying the user. According to SocialChamp, “A Shadowban on TikTok refers to the automated process of making a creator’s content less visible to the audience by TikTok. The breach of TikTok guidelines prompts this censorship.”
Essentially, when an account gets shadowbanned, their videos, comments, and hashtags will have significantly reduced visibility on the platform. Other users are less likely to see the shadowbanned account’s content on their For You feed or in search results. As Influencer Marketing Hub explains, “Your account becomes blocked or muted without you knowing about it.”
TikTok does this to accounts that violate community guidelines or engage in spammy behavior, like repeatedly posting duplicate or stolen content. It’s meant to limit the impact of bad actors without fully removing the account. According to Embed Social, “The TikTok videos will not get the organic traction as others and will have limited impressions.”
Some signs of being shadowbanned include a sudden unexplained drop in views, likes, and comments. Content may only show up for people who follow you directly. Hashtags will also appear ineffective at surfacing your videos to a wider audience.
Violating Community Guidelines
One of the most common reasons an account may not show up on TikTok is if it has violated the platform’s Community Guidelines (source). TikTok has strict policies against certain types of content and behavior, including:
- Illegal activities
- Violent extremism
- Hateful behavior and ideology
- Adult nudity and sexual activities
- Harassment and bullying
- Spam, deception, and scams
If TikTok determines an account has severely or repeatedly violated these rules, the account may be removed or restricted. This essentially makes the account invisible – it will not show up in searches, recommendations, or anywhere else on the platform (source).
So if your account is suddenly not viewable, it’s likely due to a terms of service violation. You can appeal the decision through TikTok, but will need to ensure you fully understand and follow the guidelines going forward.
Using Third-Party Apps
Some users try to boost their follower count or engagement using third-party apps and sites that promise more views, likes, and comments. However, connecting your TikTok account to these unauthorized third-party apps and sites can be dangerous.
TikTok warns that third-party apps may collect your personal information or content without your consent. They could potentially gain access to your account and post or delete content without your knowledge. Third-party apps also violate TikTok’s Terms of Service.
If TikTok detects you are using these unauthorized apps, your account may be removed from recommendations, or even banned entirely. It’s best to avoid third-party apps and sites promising inflated engagement. Focus on creating high-quality content and interacting genuinely instead.
Posting Infrequently
Posting regularly on TikTok is important for maintaining account visibility. According to WordStream, brands post on TikTok around 16 times per month on average, or just over once every two days [1]. Posting less frequently than this can result in lower views and engagement.
TikTok’s algorithm favors accounts that post consistently. When you post often, the algorithm will begin surfacing your content more in follower feeds and recommendations. Posting infrequently means you may fall out of the algorithm’s favor, making it harder for your videos to gain traction.
Regular posting also helps build authority and trust with viewers. By consistently providing entertaining or informative content, you demonstrate reliability as a creator. Sporadic posting can break momentum and cause followers to disengage.
While daily posting is not required, aiming for at least a few videos per week can help maximize discoverability and engagement. Consider developing a consistent schedule that fits within your workflow.
Using Banned Hashtags
One common reason an account may not show up or have restricted visibility on TikTok is using banned hashtags. TikTok maintains a list of hashtags that are blocked from appearing in posts or searches due to inappropriate or dangerous content associations. According to A Complete List Of Banned Hashtags You Should Avoid, some examples of banned hashtags include #abdl, #addmysc, #adulting, and #alone.
If you use a significant number of banned hashtags, the TikTok algorithm may limit your account’s visibility or shadowban you completely. Shadowbanning makes your content only viewable to people who follow you and restricts your posts from appearing on hashtags or in searches. You can check if your account is shadowbanned by searching for your own username – if nothing comes up, your account is likely shadowbanned.
To avoid being shadowbanned, you should remove all banned tags from existing posts. You can use tools like IQ Hashtags Banned Hashtag Checker to scan your profile and identify banned tags to delete.
Overall, using many banned hashtags is one of the quickest ways to make your account invisible on TikTok. Stick to approved, trending hashtags and periodically audit your posts to remove any banned tags.
Bug or Glitch
Sometimes a bug or glitch in the TikTok app itself can cause accounts to not show up properly. TikTok regularly rolls out updates which aim to fix bugs but sometimes new issues arise. According to Android Police, the TikTok app is known to suffer from problems like crashing, lagging or corrupting videos which could prevent your account from loading correctly.
TikTok’s own troubleshooting guide advises trying basic steps like force quitting the app, clearing the cache/data, uninstalling and reinstalling the app if you are experiencing technical issues. Outages have also been known to cause widespread problems accessing TikTok accounts. Checking sites like DownDetector can confirm if others are experiencing similar problems accessing TikTok.
In most cases, waiting for TikTok to roll out a bug fixing update or for temporary outages to be resolved should restore access to your account. If issues persist, you can try reporting the problem directly to TikTok through their support options.
Filing an Appeal
If your account has been restricted or banned on TikTok, you can file an appeal to have your account reinstated. Here’s how to appeal TikTok account restrictions:
In the TikTok app, go to your profile page and tap the three dots in the top right corner. Choose “Report a problem” and select “Appeal account ban.” You’ll be asked to provide an explanation of why you think your account should be reinstated.
According to TikTok’s creator portal, “If the appeal is successful, the content will be restored. We’ll notify you that your appeal was successful. We’ll also let you know that the penalty will be removed from your account.”1 The duration of a TikTok appeal on an account restriction can take a few days to process.
Make sure your appeal explanation clearly states why you believe your account should not have been restricted. Provide any context or extenuating circumstances. Be polite and constructive in your appeal wording.
If your initial appeal is rejected, you can file another appeal explaining why you disagree with the decision. However, continuing to violate policies after an appeal may lead to a permanent ban.
Conclusion
In summary, there are several potential reasons why your account may not be showing up on TikTok. The most common causes are having a private account, being shadowbanned, violating community guidelines, using third-party apps that go against TikTok’s terms of service, posting infrequently, using banned hashtags, experiencing a technical bug or glitch, or having your account mistakenly banned.
To resolve the issue, first double check your account and post settings to ensure your profile and content is set to public. Stay compliant with all TikTok policies, avoid suspicious third-party services, post engaging content regularly, use relevant hashtags, and update the app. If you believe your account was wrongly banned, you can appeal the decision through TikTok’s support options. With some troubleshooting and adjustment of your account practices, you should be able to get your profile back up and visible to others on TikTok.
