[FAQ]

So, based on my analytics showing almost zero “For You” page traffic, I’m pretty sure my account has been shadowbanned. I’m trying to figure out what I might have done wrong.

What are the common reasons why an account might get restricted like this in 2025? Is it usually about a specific piece of content, or could it be from spammy-looking behavior?

More importantly, what’s the best step-by-step process to fix this? Should I delete videos? Take a break from posting for a while? Try to contact support? I really want to get my account back in good standing.

[Jeff Bullas]

While “shadowbanning” is not an official term that TikTok uses, a sudden and significant restriction in your content’s reach is a real issue. It is usually triggered by your account’s content or behaviour being flagged by the platform’s automated systems as potentially violating their policies.

There are several common reasons this can happen. First, and most frequently, it is due to posting content that violates or pushes the boundaries of the Community Guidelines. Even if a video is not removed, content that touches on sensitive topics, promotes regulated goods, contains borderline hateful speech, or depicts potentially unsafe behaviour can be flagged and have its distribution heavily limited.

Second, repeated copyright infringement can be a cause. If you frequently upload videos containing copyrighted music, movie clips, or television shows that you do not have the rights to use, your account can be penalised.

Third, engaging in spam-like behaviour is a major red flag for the system. This includes actions like following accounts too quickly, liking a huge number of videos in a very short period, or posting the same comment repeatedly. This can make your account appear to be a bot.

Fourth, you might have inadvertently used banned or sensitive hashtags. If a hashtag has been flagged by TikTok for being associated with inappropriate content, including it in your video’s caption can cause that video’s reach to be suppressed.

To fix a suspected restriction on your reach, there is a clear process you can follow. First, the most important step is to thoroughly review your recent content and delete any videos that you suspect might be problematic. If you are unsure about a video, it is often safer to remove it. Start with your most recent video and work backwards.

Second, after you have cleaned up your profile, many creators report that taking a short break from posting, perhaps for two to four days, can be beneficial. This can sometimes help your account’s standing to “reset” within the algorithm.

Third, you should also clear the cache of your TikTok app through your phone’s settings and ensure your app is fully updated to the latest version. This can resolve any minor technical glitches that might be contributing to the issue.

Fourth, when you decide to start posting again, focus exclusively on creating high-quality, original content that is unambiguously safe and compliant with all of TikTok’s Community Guidelines. This is how you begin to send positive signals to the system and rebuild your account’s good standing.

Contacting TikTok support for an unofficial “shadowban” is often not effective, as they will likely just refer you back to the Community Guidelines. The best approach is to identify and remove the potential cause yourself and demonstrate good behaviour going forward. Patience is key, as it can take some time for your reach to fully recover.

Cheers,

Jeff

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