What is a shadowban on TikTok?
If you’ve noticed that your engagement on TikTok has taken a massive dip, you might have been ‘shadowbanned’ on the platform.
AsTikTokcontinues to be the go-to app for viral content, more and more creators are joining the short-form video platform to try to build their presence there.
This means that there are plenty of people who are keeping a close eye on their engagement, and often notice when there is a sharp decrease in likes, views, and sometimes comments.
Some attribute this phenomenon to ‘shadowbans,’ but fixing the issue is not an entirely straightforward process.
Shadowbanning refers to a platform or service blocking or partially blocking a user’s visibility or access on a certain site without officially informing them.
It’s a phenomenon seen across multiple different sites,such as Instagram, however, some debate whether shadowbans on TikTok are actually “real.”
You may find that your videos are no longer appearing on people’s For You Pages, leading to a drop in engagement.
It’s likely you’ll find yourself shadowbanned when your account violates the community guidelines and gets blocked by TikTok itself.
While there has not yet been a definitive reason regarding shadowbans, there is speculation that it is caused by spam, guideline violations, or even copyrighted music.
If you suspect your videos are being hidden from people’s For You Pages, there are a few steps you can take to try to resolve the issue.
However, it’s worth noting that none of these ‘fixes’ guarantee that the issue will be resolved.
TikTok users are continuously mystified by the concept of shadowbans, but as of yet the platform hasn’t released specific information regarding them.
If you want to learn more about how to use TikTok, you can check out our other guides, includinghow to duet on TikTokandhow to use TikTok Stories.
Georgina Smith was an Entertainment Writer on Dexerto’s UK team, specializing in viral, TikTok, YouTube and Twitch content. She also covered reality TV shows from Below Deck to Love Island.
