TikTok Shadowban: The Complete Guide [How to Fix & Avoid]

Updated on September 11, 2023

8 min to read

Content Writer

Published June 28, 2023

TikTok Shadowban: The Complete Guide [How to Fix & Avoid]
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If your clients’ posts mysteriously lose traction and their reach plummets for no apparent reason, TikTok shadowban might be the culprit.  

TikTok shadowbans can wreck your TikTok marketing campaigns to kingdom come.

Don’t let TikTok shadowban darken your efforts and ruin your clients’ social media success. 

In this must-read blog post, we’ll dive deep into the world of TikTok shadowbans, uncovering the painful truth behind this dreaded phenomenon and tackling the problem it brings.

We’ll explore the TikTok shadowban implications, discover effective strategies to solve the puzzle and reignite your client content’s visibility. 

Let’s go.

Table of contents

What you’ll learn:

  • What is a TikTok Shadowban?
  • How to tell if your clients posts are shadowbanned
  • 3 Reasons why your client accounts get shadowbanned on TikTok
  • How long does a TikTok shadowban last?
  • 6 Tips to avoid and remove a TikTok Shadowban
  • Customers also ask
  • Avoid getting TikTok shadowbanned

What is a TikTok Shadowban?

Imagine this: once in the limelight, your clients’ TikTok videos suddenly vanish into thin air. 

It’s like they’ve been put on a silent, invisible timeout. 

Suddenly, your client’s content disappears from their followers’ For You Pages (FYP) and even those trendy hashtag sections. 

It’s also a struggle for other users to stumble upon your clients’ posts, including liking and commenting on the videos.

That’s what happens when you experience the TikTok shadowban.

Although TikTok won’t openly admit to shadowbanning, they have ways of keeping certain accounts in check, especially if they’ve violated the Community Guidelines. 

How to tell if your clients posts are shadowbanned

You won’t know if your clients’ accounts are shadowbanned on TikTok since the platform won’t notify you or your clients.

The question is, how do you uncover this sneaky trickery? 

Your clients’ content might need a little sprucing up if their engagement drops, but there are unmistakable signs that your clients’ accounts have fallen victim to a TikTok shadow ban. 

Here are a few juicy clues that indicate they have fallen into the shadowy abyss:

When your clients’ engagement numbers take a nosedive 

If your clients’ views, likes, and shares suddenly plummet, something fishy is going on. 

We’re talking about a major drop, not just a tiny dip. 

If your clients’ digits were soaring high and then crash-landed, it’s time to raise an eyebrow and consider the possibility that you’re shadowbanned.

When your clients’ content goes missing from the For You party 

All the cool kids hang out on the “For You” page. 

If your clients’ content vanishes from there, it’s like TikTok has ghosted them. 

Ask your clients’ friends and followers to check if the TikTok videos have mysteriously disappeared from their “For You” pages too. 

That’s a dead giveaway of a shadow ban.

When your clients’ videos become the invisible man in searches 

Try searching for your client’s content using keywords and hashtags they’ve been rocking. 

Your clients’ videos are likely banished from relevant searches if you can’t find the posts anywhere. 

Get a buddy to play detective and see if they can spot your clients’ content in the search results to help figure out what’s going on. 

When uploading client videos takes an eternity

Are your client videos taking forever to upload? Are they stuck in eternal “processing” or “under review” purgatory? 

It’s not always your internet acting up; it might just be TikTok playing tricks on you. 

If this upload saga has been going on for ages, brace yourself—it could be another sign of a sneaky shadow ban.

3 Reasons why your client accounts get shadowbanned on TikTok

Let’s dig into the nitty-gritty of TikTok shadow bans and how your clients can end up in this sticky situation. 

TikTok has its reasons, which boil down to its Community Guidelines

Check out why TikTok hit your clients with a shadow ban.

Reason 1: Naughty by TikTok’s Standards

TikTok takes its rules seriously, and repeated violations of its guidelines can get your clients’ accounts in trouble.  

The following violations can trigger a TikTok shadowban:

🔥 Sharing steamy content. TikTok draws the line on explicit adult content. Keep the bedroom talk off the app. Continuous violations could even lead to a permanent ban. Yikes!

🚫 Danger alert. TikTok isn’t the place for dangerous challenges. Those stunts that could land you in the ER? TikTok says no thanks. If your clients’ videos promote dangerous acts, they’re likely to get shadowbanned. 

👊 Bye-bye, bullies. TikTok aims for an inclusive and respectful community. Bullying and harassment? Absolutely not. Spread love, not hate. Any abusive, threatening, or harassing behavior could jeopardize your client’s account.

😡 Hateful vibes. Discrimination? Hateful behavior? TikTok’s having none of it. Hate speech or promoting hateful ideologies won’t fly. Repeated offenses might even lead to a full-on ban. Let’s keep it positive.

💥 No violence, please. TikTok (or any online platform) isn’t the place to incite or endorse violence. Violence, extremist content, or supporting violent extremist organizations? Nope, not on TikTok’s watch. 

🚫 Copyright cops. Ah, the copyright minefield. Avoid posting someone else’s content without permission. It’s a big no-no. Respect the creative rights of others or your clients might just get hit with a shadow ban.

Reason 2: Spam and shenanigans

It’s not just about your clients’ video content. 

TikTok doesn’t take kindly to spammy and inauthentic behavior. 

Avoid the following:

🤖 Bot behavior: Acting like a bot? Not cool. Bulk following accounts, spamming the feed, or buying fake engagements? TikTok’s not a fan. Be authentic and keep it real, or your client’s accounts will be on lockdown.

🚫 Don’t be a trickster: Impersonating others or spreading harmful misinformation? TikTok’s watching. Stay true to your client’s brand identity and what it stands for, and avoid any shady business that misleads or misinforms followers. 

Reason 3: Accidental shadowbanning

Sometimes, it’s all a big misunderstanding. 

TikTok’s algorithm isn’t perfect, and it has often mistakenly flagged innocent videos, resulting in an unintentional shadow ban. 

How long does a TikTok shadowban last?

There’s no exact timeline for how long shadowbans last.

On average, a TikTok shadow ban can last anywhere from two weeks to a month. 

Yep, that’s the typical range. 

In some unfortunate cases, it can lead to a permanent block to the offending party, and that’s a one-way ticket to losing access to your client’s account. 

Remember that the TikTok security algorithm is unpredictable.

Who knows how it’ll evolve in the future?

The duration of a shadow ban might change along the way. 

Ready to give your content workflow and posts a major upgrade? Try AI Assistant powered by ChatGPT today! 🤖💙

6 Tips to avoid and remove a TikTok Shadowban

You’ve uncovered the truth: your client’s TikTok account is under the dreaded shadow ban. 

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The good news is that there are tips and tricks you can follow to help your clients off of the shadowban.

1. Play by the rules

Double-check the TikTok Community Guidelines and peek at your clients’ content and comments to see if any lines were accidentally crossed. 

It could be as innocent as using a non-TikTok-approved song in your client’s video. 

Yes, even that catchy tune might be the reason behind the ban, so stay on the right side of the copyright police.

The key is to ensure your clients’ videos follow TikTok’s community guidelines before publishing. 

Use reliable social media management tools like Vista Social to make creating, reviewing, and scheduling your clients’ TikTok videos as easy as pie.

Vista Social’s TikTok Planner lets you organize and plan your clients’ TikTok posts visually with the platform’s nifty drag-and-drop tools. 

Go to the TikTok Planner in the Publishing menu.

Go to the TikTok Planner in the Publishing menu.

On the TikTok planner page, you’ll see your media library on the left, a preview of your previous and upcoming posts in the center, and a list of your scheduled posts on the right. 

On the TikTok planner page, you’ll see your media library on the left.

Drag and drop your clients’ videos from the media library to the preview area. 

Drag and drop your clients’ videos.

You can also drag and drop the scheduled posts under Post schedule to rearrange their order. 

Rearrange their order.

Individually edit your clients’ scheduled posts, such as TikTok Stories, by clicking the edit icon. 

You’ll be taken to a pop-up window where you can add descriptions, hashtags, emojis, mentions, and other elements. 

Add descriptions, hashtags, emojis, mentions, and other elements.

Set your preferred publishing schedule by choosing a specific date and time for posting or adding the post to a queue. 

Set your preferred publishing schedule.

Learning how to post ten-minute videos on TikTok with Vista Social is a cakewalk.  

With Vista Social’s TikTok planner and other sophisticated social media management tools, you can: 

  • Organize your clients’ content like a pro 
  • Ensure consistency while complying with TikTok’s community guidelines
  • Set up a review and approval process to simplify going through videos before publishing
  • Schedule TikTok posts with sounds for auto-publishing, saving time and energy 

2. Delete the evidence 

If you suspect any of your client’s content violating the guidelines, it’s time for a clean-up. 

Remove the offending video or videos from your client’s account. 

TikTok might be kind enough to point out which ones have been flagged, but sometimes you’ll have to put your detective skills to the test and use good old common sense.

3. Say no to spam 

TikTok hates spammy behavior as much as people hate a soggy pizza crust. 

So, take a good look at your client’s recent actions. 

Have your client accounts been bulk-following other users like crazed fans? 

Do they flood the feed with an avalanche of videos? 

Or maybe your clients fell into the trap of those “boost your engagement” services? 

Cut it out. Stop the spammy stuff and get back to authentic “TikToking,” to keep your client accounts from getting shadowbanned.

Know the best practices on how often to post on TikTok to avoid spammy tactics. 

4. Do a bit of troubleshooting

If removing the offending video or comment doesn’t do the trick, it’s time to bring out the big guns. 

Delete and reinstall the TikTok app to clear and update the cache, giving it a fresh start. 

If it works, you should start seeing those sweet engagements rolling in again once your clients’ accounts and videos are back in action.

5. Wait it out

Most TikTok shadow bans last around two weeks (although some unlucky souls endure longer bans). 

If the previous steps didn’t work their magic, you could ride out the ban until TikTok lifts it. 

Your client’s engagement might take a hit during this time, but chin up. It’s a temporary setback.

If waiting isn’t your style, consider reporting the issue to TikTok. 

Head over to the TikTok Support page for more details on resolving a shadowban.  

6. Get the inside scoop from your analytics

Here’s the deal: diving into your analytics is vital to help your clients stay on top of their TikTok game. 

It’s like having a secret weapon to dodge those shadow bans. 

Keeping a close eye on your clients’ TikTok engagement numbers ensures you’ll be the first to know if their posts are getting the cold shoulder from the For You page.

With the power of analytics, you can take action faster than TikTok trending videos go viral. 

Customers also ask

Get a load of frequently asked questions from customers. 

1. Should I keep posting videos during a shadowban? 

Yes, but err on the side of caution.

Don’t let that ban bring your clients down.

A lot of shadowbanned folks tend to test the waters with drafts and quick, short videos to see if the ban is gone.

Just remember to stay within TikTok’s guidelines and focus on publishing quality content.

After all, you don’t want to make things worse by getting your clients’ TikTok accounts suspended or permanently banned. 

2. Can I pay to get rid of a TikTok shadowban?

Nope, sorry. There’s no to pay your way out of the TikTok shadow ban. 

The key to banishing that ban lies in following the community guidelines like a pro and ensuring your clients don’t break them again. 

That said, put away that wallet and focus on creating awesome TikTok posts for your clients.

3. What happens when I get shadowbanned on TikTok?

When you get shadowbanned, you’ll witness a drastic drop in your clients’ video views and engagement rates across all their content. 

Avoid getting TikTok shadowbanned

Now that you’ve learned how to spot signs of getting shadowbanned and avoid getting caught in its clutches, it’s time to go full throttle with your TikTok marketing campaigns.

It’s now easier than ever to scale and streamline your TikTok marketing initiatives.

  • Use AI text generators to create posts 10x faster
  • Add TikTok trending audios to make your videos more engaging
  • Bulk schedule your posts
  • Automate your reports to get crucial performance insights

You can do all this and more with Vista Social. Create a free account now.

About the Author

Content Writer

Jimmy Rodela is a social media and content marketing consultant with over 9 years of experience, with work appearing on sites such as Business.com, Yahoo, SEMRush, and SearchEnginePeople. He specializes in social media, content marketing, SaaS, small business strategy, marketing automation, and content development.

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