TikTok is a popular short-form video app with over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide (TikTok Statistics You Need to Know in 2024). Like other social media platforms, TikTok has community guidelines and content policies in place to maintain a safe and positive environment on the app. Violating these policies can result in an account being banned either temporarily or permanently.
Some of the main reasons TikTok may ban an account include copyright infringement, illegal activities, hate speech, harassment, inappropriate content, misleading information, spam, and low-quality content. TikTok aims to promote authentic and entertaining videos that do not infringe on others’ rights or cause harm. Understanding TikTok’s content policies can help creators avoid actions that could lead to a banned account.
Copyright Infringement
One of the most common reasons TikTok may ban an account is for copyright infringement. This occurs when a user uploads content that they did not create or do not have permission to share on the platform. According to TikTok’s Copyright guidelines, uploading others’ content without permission is a violation of their terms of service.
TikTok has a strict policy against copyright infringement in order to protect creative rights. If you do not have ownership of a song, clip, or other content, you cannot legally upload it. This includes clips from TV shows, movies, music videos, and other sources. Even short clips and audio from copyrighted sources are not permitted without the proper licensing or permission from the owner.
TikTok provides a copyright reporting tool that allows owners to submit infringement claims. If TikTok determines your account violated copyright law by uploading unauthorized content, your account may be permanently banned. This applies even for first-time offenses given the seriousness of violating copyright law. TikTok wants to discourage such illegal activity that harms creative professionals.
Illegal Activities
TikTok bans accounts that promote dangerous or criminal behavior, including account takeovers. Its community guidelines explicitly prohibit content that “depicts, promotes, endorses, encourages, or provides instructions for criminal, illegal, or dangerous activities.”
Some examples of illegal activities that could get an account banned include:
- Encouraging trespassing or unauthorized access to restricted areas
- Giving instructions on how to buy illegal drugs or make explosives
- Depicting dangerous driving such as street racing or stunt driving
- Promoting fraudulent activities such as phishing or financial scams
- Threatening physical safety or privacy of others through doxxing or swatting
TikTok has zero tolerance for content that promotes dangerous real-world activities, especially those that put people at risk. Accounts repeatedly violating this policy face permanent suspension.
Hate Speech
One major reason why TikTok may ban an account is for posting hate speech. TikTok’s Community Guidelines prohibit attacks based on protected categories such as race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, caste, sexual orientation, sex, gender, gender identity, and serious disease or disability. This includes content that seeks to incite hatred on the basis of these categories.
In October 2020, TikTok announced an expansion of its hate speech ban to include ideologies such as neo-Nazism and white supremacy (source). The platform has zero tolerance for organized hate groups and those associated with them.
According to TikTok’s latest transparency report from April-June 2021, the platform proactively removed over 15 million videos for violating hate speech policies. This demonstrates the platform’s increased effort to curb hate speech.
Users who repeatedly post hate speech may have their account banned permanently or temporarily restricted. The ban aims to prevent further promotion of harmful ideologies and protect users from danger and emotional distress.
Harassment and Bullying
TikTok does not tolerate harassment or bullying on its platform. The community guidelines strictly prohibit repeatedly targeting an individual or group with unwanted contact, threats, offensive comments, or sharing private information without consent. These behaviors can cause significant emotional distress and will lead to an account being banned (TikTok).
According to TikTok’s guidelines, harassment includes: unwanted direct messages or comments, sharing unwanted or inappropriate photos, using another person’s account without permission, threats of violence or harm, unwanted sexual remarks or advances, hate speech or symbols, mocking someone’s appearance, or disclosing private information to blackmail or control someone (TikTok).
TikTok takes active measures to prevent bullying, partnering with leading experts to develop policies and initiatives. Users are encouraged to report any concerning behavior directly within the app. TikTok’s moderation team reviews these reports and may remove content or suspend accounts that violate policies. Counseling resources are also provided to support victims of bullying or abuse (TikTok, Cybersmile).
By taking a zero tolerance approach and empowering users, TikTok aims to cultivate an inclusive environment where everyone feels safe to express themselves creatively.
Violent and Graphic Content
TikTok prohibits any content that depicts, promotes, normalizes, or glorifies acts of violence or harm, including violent extremism. This includes graphic depictions of violence or gore for shocking or gratuitous purposes.
Specifically, TikTok’s Community Guidelines forbid content that:
- Depicts, promotes, normalizes, or glorifies acts of violence or harm, including violent extremism.
- Includes graphic or violent content shared for sensational viewing.
- Depicts, promotes, normalizes or glorifies animal abuse.
TikTok states they recognize that some content may be intended to raise awareness or educate, but graphic content can still cause real world harm even if shared with good intentions. Therefore, overly graphic or violent content is not allowed on the platform.
Accounts that repeatedly post violent or graphic content in violation of the guidelines may be permanently banned. TikTok aims to create an enjoyable environment and prevent the glorification or normalization of violence.
Sources: https://support.tiktok.com/en/safety-hc/account-and-user-safety/content-violations-and-bans, https://www.tiktok.com/community-guidelines/en/safety-civility/
Adult Nudity and Sexual Activities
TikTok has strict policies prohibiting adult nudity and sexual activities on the platform. According to TikTok’s Community Guidelines, “We do not allow nudity, including uncovered genitals and buttocks, as well as nipples and areolas of women and girls. Sheer and partially see-through clothing showing uncovered genitalia, buttocks or areolas are also not allowed.”
TikTok also explicitly bans pornography and sexually explicit content. As stated on the Creator Portal, “Nudity, pornography, or sexually explicit content are not allowed on our platform.” This includes depictions of sexual activities such as masturbation, sexual intercourse, or fetish content.
In December 2022, TikTok announced it was strengthening enforcement against sexually suggestive content as well. The company said it wants everyone to feel comfortable and safe on the platform.
Misleading Content
TikTok has strict policies against misleading content such as scams, fraud, and impersonation, which can violate the platform’s Integrity and Authenticity guidelines. This type of misleading content is prohibited because it can deceive users and spread false information.
Specifically, TikTok bans accounts that engage in scams or fraudulent activities like pyramid schemes, promoting ‘get rich quick’ schemes, or otherwise deceiving users. Impersonation of an individual, business, or organization is also not allowed. This includes using another entity’s branding without permission or falsely representing yourself as someone else.
If an account is found to be misleading viewers through scams, impersonation, or fraud, TikTok will permanently ban the account. This policy helps maintain trust and safety across the platform. TikTok aims to quickly identify and remove misleading content so users have an authentic experience.
Spam and Low-Quality Content
TikTok has a massive problem with spam accounts and low-quality automated content. Reports estimate that up to 97% of traffic on TikTok comes from bots and fake accounts. According to TikTok’s own data, the platform removed over 30 million spam accounts from April to June 2022.
These spam accounts often generate repetitive content through automation to artificially inflate engagement. The content itself is typically irrelevant or nonsensical, with no value to genuine users. Spam accounts frequently use copied content, meaningless hashtags, and spammy captions to try and promote products, services, or scams.
According to webfriendly.com, the most common types of spam accounts are: auto-commenters, fake followers, engagement pods, and reposters. These accounts undermine the integrity of the platform by artificially manipulating engagement metrics.
TikTok aims to maintain a positive user experience by cracking down on these low-quality spam accounts. Genuine content creators and viewers are better served through the removal of irrelevant, repetitive bot-generated content.
Conclusion
In summary, TikTok may ban accounts for violating its Community Guidelines and Terms of Service in several key areas. Accounts may be banned for posting copyright protected content without permission or engaging in illegal activities. Hate speech, harassment, bullying, and violent or graphic content are also grounds for banning. TikTok prohibits adult content, misleading information, spam, and low-quality content as well.
TikTok faces challenges in content moderation due to its massive global user base and the sheer volume of content uploaded daily. Automated systems and human content reviewers work to enforce policies, but some inappropriate content can slip through. Overall, TikTok aims to create a positive community and remove accounts that violate its rules.
The main takeaways are that any content violating TikTok’s guidelines could lead to an account ban. TikTok has to balance enforcing policies with allowing creative expression. While not perfect, TikTok continues working to improve its content moderation.
