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Getting a shadowban on TikTok isn’t fun. Losing your followers, reputation, and resources is tough on anyone.
Luckily, there’s plenty you can do.
This guide discusses the feared TikTok shadowban in all its complexity. Follow along as we discuss this controversial practice, how you can tell if you’ve been banned, and how to get back to the For You Page.
Keep reading below!
Detecting a Shadowban
Duration and Impact of Shadowban
Preventing TikTok Shadowbanning
How to Lift a TikTok Shadowban
Shadow banning is an action taken by some social media channels, including TikTok, to block some users. Ghost banning doesn’t alert users, so if this happens to you, you’ll probably never know it.
That’s why it’s so difficult to prove it happened to you.
If stealth banning happens to you on this social media platform, people won’t see your videos anymore on the For You Page. Your followers won’t see videos from hashtags even if they specifically search for them.
Imagine what that means if you make a living from social media marketing.
Losing your current followers means starting all over again. That’s why the concept of shadow banning is so controversial:
TikTok hasn’t explained how its social media algorithms work for shadow banning people. However, your drop in views is likely caused by breaking community guidelines.
These community violations include any objectionable content which fits into these two categories:
The first category is pretty self-explanatory and includes anything that could be rated PG-18. On the other hand, the second category is broad. Offensive content can vary from threats and outright harassment to something as mild as spamming.
So, if you’re not a violent extremist, it can be challenging even to realize if you did something wrong.
You’ll know that TikTok considers something you posted as objectionable content if you notice that drop in viewership.
Pro tip: Not every steep drop in views or comments results from a shadowban.
Other factors include:
For example, if you still get one of your video views from the Front Page, you didn’t get a ghost ban on TikTok.
Remember: If your account doesn’t perform well anymore, revisit TikTok’s algorithm for reaching the For You Page. In this case, that sharp decrease in views isn’t a consequence of a ghost ban.
If you haven’t been ghost-banned, the solution is simple: post more quality content and remember to include relevant hashtags (especially niche hashtags and trending hashtags).
We have many other tips on how to stay relevant in our ultimate guide to TikTok influencer marketing.
But back to the subject. Here’s how to check for a possible shadow ban if you have a TikTok Pro Account:
A TikTok Shadowban for breaking community rules is now about two weeks long. That’s a considerable length compared to when TikTok first became popular a few years ago.
Here’s what happens during this period:
Conversations around shadow banning note an acute injustice of this practice:
TikTok never actually notifies you about what they’re doing. And when you realize it yourself from this drop in audience engagement, it can be too late.
Warning: Other social media sites practice shadow banning, too, such as Instagram and Twitter.
During this ghost banning period, you’re not visible in search results or feeds, and you probably won't:
Psst: to up your follower count, check out how to get more followers on TikTok.
Now that you understand the basics of shadow banning, let’s see how you avoid it.
Social media apps, including TikTok, have specific rules. Usually, community guideline violations are punished. TikTok decides this “punishment” to be a shadowban.
So, avoid:
Firstly, you have to understand your audience better. If people don’t like what you’re posting, your follower count will drop.
Also, some may report you for little things they would otherwise forgive.
To resolve this issue, reconsider your visual work and your actual content.
You can use a software that helps you create beautiful content. Video-making and editing tools are essential if your TikTok account has followers you don’t want to lose.
For the content itself, ask yourself if what you’re posting is:
Spammy behaviour includes:
You should delete anything that goes against TikTok’s broader community rules, such as:
Remember that TikTok wants to remain an inclusive platform so check your recent content to ensure you haven’t broken these rules.
If you find anything that breaks the community standards:
Ensure you’re posting original content and creative videos. Alternatively, give credit where credit is due if you’re using other people for inspiration.
Remember: Never again post the same content that got you the original ban.
If you’re working with a content creator to promote your business, vet them thoroughly. Some influencers have bot followers and massively post copied content to attract unsuspecting content marketers.
If you want to be on the safe side or don’t want to lose countless hours vetting your influencers, use a free TikTok & Instagram Influencer Database. You may also check if your potential influencers have an engaged audience with a TikTok engagement rate calculator.
There’s a degree of shadow banning; minor rule-breaking isn’t that serious and can get you less time in shadowland. However, if your “punishment” lasts for weeks at a time, you might want to do something about it.
First, ensure you’ve done all the following steps:
The thing is, sometimes your content doesn’t break any standards.
Remember that content bots moderate activity on TikTok and other social media channels. And these bots don’t always work correctly. Some bot moderators can simply deem an uncommon hashtag as problematic.
If that happens, try these solutions:
You can also get in touch with inBeat to discuss strategy and devise the best plan for your needs with influencer marketing experts.
