How to Get Unshadowbanned On Tiktok
Are you noticing a sudden drop in engagement on your TikTok account? If your videos are no longer appearing on the "For You" page, or if your views and likes have dramatically decreased, you might be experiencing a shadowban.
In this guide, we'll explain what a TikTok shadowban is, why it happens, and how you can get your account back on track. Let's dive in and figure out how to unshadowban your TikTok account.
What is TikTok ShadowBan?
TikTok shadowban is a measure to restrict your account or content in visibility without a formal notification from the platform. It's a self-executing algorithm TikTok uses to punish user accounts for violating its community guidelines.
Although this measure has not been publicly acknowledged by officials, there have been many real cases of TikTok restricting the activity of some accounts for some reason.
Charactrics of Shadowbanned TikTok account
You may be wondering: how can I confirm that my account has been shadowbanned on TikTok? Well, here are several noticeable signs that can indicate this:
1. Views, likes, and shares have plummeted
One of the first signs of a shadowban is a sudden and drastic drop in your video engagement. For example, if your videos typically get thousands of views and suddenly only get a few hundred, it might be due to a shadowban. This decrease happens because TikTok is limiting your content’s exposure.
2. No longer displayed on the "For You" page
The "For You" page is where most users discover new content. If your videos stop appearing there, you will see a decline in new viewers and followers. Even if your followers still see your content, losing visibility on the "For You" page significantly limits your reach.
3. No longer appearing in related searches
Another sign of a shadowban is when your videos no longer show up in searches, even when users search for specific hashtags or keywords related to your content. This can further reduce your engagement, as new users won’t be able to find your content organically.
4. Videos Cannot Be Uploaded Despite a Good Network Connection
While this might seem like a technical issue, it can also be a symptom of a shadowban. You can use specific tools such as BrowserScan to detect your network speed first. If issues related to the internet connection are ruled out, but you still struggle to the upload videos, TikTok might be restricting your account's ability to post content. This can be frustrating and limit your ability to engage with your audience.
Shadowban vs. Other Issues
Besides recognizing the signs mentioned above, it is also important to clarify other issues related to shadowbans. Here are two common misconceptions:
1. Shadowban vs. Full Account Ban
A full account ban is when TikTok completely disables your account, preventing you from logging in or using the platform. In contrast, a shadowban is subtler; your account is still active, but your content is hidden from most users. Unlike a full ban, you might not receive any official communication from TikTok, making it harder to diagnose.
2. Poor Content Quality or a Shadowban?
Not every drop in engagement is due to a shadowban. Sometimes, poor content quality or changes in audience preferences can lead to lower views and interactions. To determine whether you're shadowbanned or just experiencing bad traffic, analyze your content’s performance and ensure it aligns with TikTok's community guidelines. If your content has stayed consistent in quality and you still see a significant drop, a shadowban could be the cause.
How Long Does TikTok Shadowban Last?
The duration of a TikTok shadowban can vary, generally lasting from a few days to two weeks. It depends on several factors related to your account's specific circumstances:
Seriousness of Violations
The severity of the violation often dictates the duration of a shadowban. For instance, posting explicit content or spreading harmful misinformation, especially if it has already caused a bad impact, may result in a longer restriction period.
Frequency of Violations
TikTok also considers your account's historical behavior, its algorithm monitors user behavior over time. A record of good conduct with minimal violations may result in a shorter shadowban. Conversely, a history of multiple infractions could extend the duration of the ban.
Account Activity During Suspension
The actions you take during a shadowban can also influence its duration. Continuing to post content that breaches the community guidelines can extend the shadowban or escalate it to a full account ban. It’s advisable to review TikTok's community guidelines and adjust your content strategy accordingly during this period to avoid further penalties.
Why Am I Shadowbanned on TikTok?
If you're stuck with a shadowban, the first thing to do is to understand the probable reasons and figure out which one matches your account behavior. Please look out for the following possible reasons and check accordingly.
1. Violated Community Rules
In order to maintain a safe and positive community environment, TikTok has set comprehensive and strict community guidelines for the content posted by its users. Violating these rules is a primary reason for getting shadowbanned. We can troubleshoot rule violations from two perspectives:
1). Posted inappropriate content
TikTok prohibits content that includes violence, hate speech, adult content, or illegal activities. Examples include graphic violence, sexually explicit material, or promoting illegal substances. To avoid these violations, review TikTok’s Community Guidelines for a complete list of restricted content.
2). Harassment and bad comments
Negative interactions like bullying, harassment, or making inappropriate comments on others’ videos can also lead to a shadowban. TikTok monitors not just your posted videos but also your behavior across the platform. Engaging in hostile or abusive behavior, even in comments, can trigger penalties on your account.
2. Posted False Information and Spam
Spreading misinformation or engaging in spammy activities are also common reasons for a shadowban. If you don't know exactly what kind of behavior falls into this category, you might inadvertently violate it. Let's see how this happens.
1). Published unverified false news
Posting content that spreads false or misleading information, especially about sensitive topics like health or politics, can lead to a shadowban. The actions listed below may result in violations of this rule:
Sharing news, articles or social media posts without verifying the source and authenticity of the information.
Sharing biased and misleading information in an emotional state.
Using content generated directly by ai without verification.
misinterpreting data, graphs, or scientific studies to produce sensational conclusions or interpretations.
Exaggerating the title of the video, but the content does not match the title.
In a nutshell, you should always think thoroughly and verify the source and accuracy of information before posting.
2). Unintentionally spread spam
Some users might unknowingly engage in spammy behavior. Even if you didn’t intend to spam, TikTok’s algorithm might interpret repeated or overly promotional activities as such, resulting in a shadowban. Here are examples of what might be considered spam behavior:
Follow too many accounts in a short time: Quickly following a large number of accounts, especially those with few followers, can be seen as automated or bulk activity.
Send similar messages: Sending the same message to multiple users, especially if the messages seem automated or promotional, could be flagged as spam.
Frequently use of @mentions: Overusing the @mention feature to tag many unrelated users in your posts might be viewed as an attempt to manipulate visibility.
Post duplicate content: Reposting the same video or post multiple times in a short period could be considered spammy behavior.
Overuse hashtags: Using a large number of irrelevant or excessive hashtags in your posts, especially to gain more exposure without regard to content relevance, might be seen as spam.
Engage in fake interactions: Participating in or organizing fake likes, comments, or shares to artificially boost engagement on your content can be flagged as spammy.
Content farming: Creating multiple accounts to post similar or low-quality content to attract traffic or ad revenue is likely to be recognized as spam.
Misuse Duet or Stitch features: While TikTok encourages the use of Duet or Stitch to create new content, overusing these features to post non-original or low-quality content might also be considered spam.
Publish Infringing Content
Copyright and intellectual property violations are serious offenses on TikTok. Such as using copyrighted music or videos without permission, reposting others' content, or imitating someone else’s work without credit. For more detailes, you can visit Tiktok's Intellectual Property Policy to learn more.
Remember to ensure any non-original audio or video content is authorized by the original creator before use. If using copyrighted material, obtain the creator's permission and credit them appropriately, or opt for free alternatives.
Misjudged by the Algorithm
Sometimes, TikTok’s algorithm might mistakenly shadowban your account if your content is flagged as inappropriate or spammy, even if it doesn’t violate any rules. In such cases, the shadowban might be lifted after a review. Although this is a rare occurrence, it’s necessary to be aware that this can happen.
How to Get Unshadowbanned on TikTok
After understanding what it is and how it works, let's move on to addressing your shadowban issue. Here are several methods you can try to lift the ban and regain your account’s visibility.
Delete the Restricted Content
The first step is to identify and delete any content that might have caused the shadowban. As mentioned above, this could be videos, comments, or other posts that violate TikTok’s community guidelines. Removing the problematic content signals to TikTok that you’re addressing the issue, which can help speed up the unshadowbanning process.
Clear Your TikTok Cache or Reinstall the App
Sometimes, technical glitches can contribute to the shadowban. Clearing your TikTok cache or reinstalling the app can help reset your account. This process removes temporary files that might be causing glitches and gives you a fresh start.
To clear the cache, here are the steps:
Open the TikTok app.
Tap on the "Me" or profile icon at the bottom right corner to access your profile page.
Tap the three dots at the top right corner to open the settings menu.
In the Settings menu, select "Privacy and Safety."
Scroll down to find the "Free up space" option, tap on it.
Find the Cache option and tap on "Clear", the app will automatically clear its cache.
If that doesn’t work, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app.
Identify and Avoid Spammy Behavior
Identify and discontinue any actions that might be considered spam. Instead, focus on creating diverse and engaging content. Refer back to the list of spamming behaviors mentioned earlier and check if you are engaging in any such activities.
Appeal to TikTok
If you believe you’ve been shadowbanned by mistake, you can appeal directly to TikTok. Contact TikTok’s support team through the app or their official website. Explain the situation and provide any relevant information that might help them review your case. While there’s no guarantee that TikTok will lift the shadowban, appealing shows that you’re proactive about resolving the issue.
Post as Normal and Improve Video Quality
After identifying and removing all offending content, continue posting, but focus on improving the quality of your videos. High-quality content that adheres to TikTok’s guidelines is more likely to be promoted by the platform. Strictly follow the TikTok community rules, especially for new account activity, as this may influence TikTok's judgment of your account and expedite the lifting of the shadowban. During this period, review TikTok’s community guidelines to ensure your future content complies. Also, closely monitor your account to see if the shadowban is lifted.
Pause and Analyze
If the shadowban persists despite your efforts, it may indicate ongoing problematic behaviors or incomplete resolution of previous violations. Consider pausing your activity, so that you can spare time to analyze your account and content to identify what might be causing the issue. Moreover, you can also contact TikTok’s support team for further help.
Final Words
Remember, the key to getting unshadowbanned is to own your mistakes, clean up your act, and keep creating content that compliant with TikTok's community guidelines. With these strategies in your back pocket, you're well on your way to regaining your place in the TikTok spotlight. It might take some time, but with patience and persistence, you'll be back in the helm.
FAQ:
1. How to fix a shadowban on TikTok?
To fix a shadowban on TikTok, you need to learn all the probable reasons first. Take a close look at your account behavior after you eliminate distractions such as network, poor content quality, and cache glitches.
Next, delete all the violating content, try to dilute the violation level of your account by publishing compliant, high-quality content. Keep patiently monitor your account and wait till it restored.
2. Should I keep posting if I'm shadowbanned on TikTok?
The answer is 'yes', focus on creating high-quality content that strictly follows TikTok’s community guidelines may help you shorten the shadowban time, but make sure analyzing your account and addressed the potential issues before continuing to post. You need to identify and remove any content that may have caused the shadowban first, otherwise may extend the shadowban or lead to further penalties.
3. Why does a TikTok account get banned?
The account ban is a more serious punishment than a shadowban, and the reasons involved are also available through tiktok's official community rules. If you want to learn more about TikTok account bans, you can read 10 Common Questions About TikTok Banned, it offered a comprehensive interpretation.