Are you having trouble with your TikTok account? Who knows, you may have been shadowbanned. So, what is shadowban on TikTok?
Shadowbanning is when your account is blocked or censored by the app. And if you need more information about it and how to get rid of it, i.e., how to get unshadowbanned on TikTok, just stick around.
This post has you covered, don’t go anywhere!
Shadowban on TikTok: What is it?
Shadowban is a term used to describe when a user is banned or censored by a social media platform. Furthermore, this term is most often used on platforms like Twitter and Instagram, but it can also apply to TikTok.
So, here’s more to shadowbanning.
When a user is shadowbanned on TikTok, their account and content are still visible to them, but other users won’t be able to see it. In other words, your account becomes “invisible” to other users.
So, with losing ‘visibility’ on TikTok, the user has a hard time, and it’s almost impossible to gain new followers or interact with other users.
How To Know If You’re Shadowbanned on TikTok?
The worst part about being shadowbanned is that you won’t know you are being shadowbanned because the platform won’t let you know.
However, if you’re having doubts about it, there are a few things you can check for yourself:
- For starters, try searching for your username on the platform. If you can’t find your account, you may have been shadowbanned.
- Another way to check is to look at your follower count. If you suddenly lose a large number of followers, your suspicions are more than justified.
- For some undefined reason, you can’t upload new posts/videos. Let’s say that every time you try and upload a video, it’s constantly under review or something of the like.
- Finally, you can ask other users if they can see your content. If they can’t, then you’ve probably been shadowbanned.
There you have it. The above are reasons enough to convince you that something’s wrong with your TikTok account.
Reasons and Causes for Shadowban on TikTok
Various reasons stand behind why a user might be shadowbanned on TikTok. The most usual reason is that the platform has determined that the user is violating its community guidelines.
Other than that, some of the most common violations include:
- Spamming: Posting repeated comments or videos, sending unwanted messages, or creating duplicate accounts.
- Inappropriate content: Violent, sexual, or otherwise offensive videos, comments, or posts.
- Misuse of hashtags: Using popular hashtags to get more views on irrelevant or inappropriate content.
- Cheating: Using third-party apps or services to get more views, likes, or followers.
These are just some of the most common reasons users get shadowbanned on TikTok.
A few more reasons include:
- Hate speech
- False news
- Violence
- Nude images/content
- Drugs
- Copyrighted music, etc.
To clear your doubts about being shadowbanned, you might want to check the platform’s community guidelines to see if you’ve been violating any rules recently.
How to Avoid Being Shadowbanned on TikTok?
We’ll have to disappoint you and tell you that getting rid of a shadowban isn’t as simple as one might think. Yet, it’s not impossible either.
Here are several things you can do to try and get your account reinstated, i.e., un shadowbanned:
- Check the platform’s community guidelines to see if you have violated any rules (we mentioned this earlier). If it so happens that you have, you can try and correct the issue and appeal to TikTok. However, if you don’t think you’ve done anything wrong, you can try reaching out to TikTok directly.
The best way to do this is to use the platform’s built-in support features. Or, try contacting TikTok through social media or via email.
- Take a break. For a while, stop producing any new content on TikTok. Better yet, don’t even try to upload anything for the time being.
- Go through your TikTok profile and notice whether there’s content that raises a red flag. If you spot anything alike, remove it from your account to be on the safe side.
- And finally, avoid using any third-party apps or services that promise to increase your followers or give you an unfair advantage on the platform. These can often lead to shadowbanning.
How Long Does a TikTok Shadowban Last?
In most cases, a shadowban will only last for a few days, maybe up to 2 weeks, but no more than that. This is usually enough time for the platform to take action against the user who has been violating its rules.
However, in some cases, a shadowban can be indefinite. This usually happens when a user has repeatedly been violating the platform’s rules or if they have been using third-party apps or services to get an unfair advantage.
Why is TikTok using Shadowbanning?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. TikTok may use shadow banning for a variety of reasons. We’ve already covered the majority of the reasons why this might be happening (violating the platform’s community guidelines, using third-party apps to cheat the system, misuse of hashtags, etc.).
How to Unshadowban My TikTok Account?
Though there is no one definitive way to unshadowban a TikTok account, still, there are methods you can try and succeed in achieving this.
You can try any of the following:
Before deleting it, you might want to delete a video or two and see if it gets your account going. If this doesn’t work, go ahead and uninstall the app from your phone and install it again.
Applications of this kind can often be dysfunctional because of missed updates or infrequent updates.
Have you ever considered going for a PRO account? If you try and convert to a PRO account, you can see how is your audience/followers engaging with your posts. Meaning you’ll have a better view of your account’s analytics.
- Create authentic and unique content.
There’s no better way to avoid flagged or copied material. Hence, take your time and turn on your brain engine and imagination to the maximum. Create something truly of your own and post carefree on your account.
Final Words
Who’d say that a shadowban exists, right?! Apparently, it does, and it’s a big deal for TikTokers.
We hope this article helped shed some light on what shadowbanning is in reality, how you can avoid it, and how long until it goes away.
In the meantime, follow our advice and methods to avoid being shadowbanned successfully. Have fun, be unique and creative, and have with TikTok – engage your followers the right way!
FAQ
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Do all platforms use shadowbanning?
No, not all platforms use shadowbanning. However, it is a popular method among social media platforms as it allows them to keep their community clean and safe while also deterring users from breaking the rules.
