What is Shadowbanning on TikTok and How to Get Unshadowbanned

Written by Jenna Jean Davis | Edited by Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: March 19, 2023

Is your TikTok account getting no likes, views, or traffic to your videos? You may have posted content that goes against the TikTok community rules and got shadowbanned. But what is a shadowban and how do you get unshadowbanned? This wikiHow article covers what a TikTok shadowban is and how to get unshadowbanned from the platform.

Section 1 of 3:

What is a Shadowban on TikTok?

1
Like every other social media platform, there are rules that you need to follow, and breaking those rules can get you banned. A shadowban is similar to a ban except it's temporary (about 2 weeks long) and you aren't notified that you're being shadowbanned.
- It's also known as ghost banning or stealth banning.
2
It's an automatic process done by TikTok's algorithm in order to protect other TikTok users from spam, copyright issues, and adult content. A shadowban prevents your content from getting to the For You page or hashtag results and will penalize your content in search.

Section 2 of 3:

How do I know if I'm Shadowbanned?

TikTok doesn't tell you if you're shadowbanned, but there are a few indicators that you can look out for. As well as your videos not appearing on the For You page or hashtag search results, you'll also notice that your videos are getting very small number comments, likes, or views relative to your popularity, and that you're not getting new followers.
- You can figure out if you're shadowbanned by having a friend (someone with a different TikTok account) search for your videos via TikTok's search feature. If your videos and account is not listed at the top of search results, it is possible you have been shadowbanned.

Section 3 of 3:

Getting Unshadowbanned

1
Delete your most recent video. If you're sure that the video is not against TikTok rules or guidelines, then you can repost it after you uninstall and re-install TikTok.
- Once you notice that you're shadowbanned, the most recent video that you've uploaded might be the culprit that caused you to get shadowbanned in the first place.
2
Uninstall and reinstall TikTok. Sometimes, the app needs to update to lift your shadowban and uninstalling and re-installing the app could work.
3
Switch to a Pro account. If you're already on a Pro account, you can skip this step. A Pro account offers insights and analytics so you know how your content is performing. With these tools, you can easily monitor your engagement and audience reach.
- To do this, open TikTok, tap Profile > ☰ > Settings and privacy > Manage account > Switch to Pro account.
- If you notice a sudden drop in your viewership, you might be shadowbanned. On the other hand, a gradual drop in viewership might suggest that your audience isn't watching as much.
4
Delete potentially offensive content. If you uploaded any videos that go against the rules and community guidelines, delete them now. You won't be able to get rid of a shadowban until all those videos are deleted from your account.
- Failure to delete any videos that go against TikTok's rules may result in your account getting warnings on videos for "community guidelines" violations (in which case the videos in question will not be able to be seen at all) or your account being indefinitely banned.
- Most videos that are considered "controversial" may be considered "offensive" to others.
5
Post original, innovative content that follows community guidelines. Post videos that don't include:
- hate speech
- copyrighted music (these can result in DMCA takedowns or content ID matches)
- inappropriate content (like drugs, fake news, and nudity)
- violence to anyone
- abuse of minors.
- Keep your content relevant by keeping up with Trends. With a Pro account, you can see which videos are hits and popular, so you can try to make more videos that are similar.
6
Don't spam videos. If you're active more often than usual, TikTok's algorithm can mark your activity as spammy and then start the shadowban. So try to limit the number of videos you upload to 1 per day to avoid getting tagged as spam.
- Activity like you commenting or liking other videos might be seen as spammy, so you can take it slow on that end too.
7
Update your profile and description. Make sure you didn't use offensive or lewd language (like curse words) in your bio. The algorithm can't take into account any sarcasm and can misinterpret some things, so ensure that you use clean language throughout.
8
Check your profile picture. If your TikTok profile picture includes violent or sexual imagery, it can result in you getting shadowbanned.
- To change your TikTok profile picture, open TikTok, tap Profile > Edit Profile > Change photo.