Since there are different definitions of what it is, how to say whether it’s happening, and what to do about it, the idea of being “shadowbanned” on TikTok is a popular topic of discussion. Before TikTok, online forums and other media platforms were accused of shadowbanning users, but the word is resurfacing now due to its association with such a common app. Despite the fact that it is a widely held belief, no one can prove that it is true.
The most popular concept of a shadowban on TikTok is when an account’s views, likes, and traffic from the For You page suddenly ceases. Users believe that if they’d previously had success and it unexpectedly stops, it’s because TikTok’s algorithm has chosen to surface their content less frequently. Of course, this sounds like a penalty, leading many TikTok users to believe that shadowbanning is a response to offensive content that breaks the platform’s rules.
The problem is that this definition is completely illogical. It would be in the best interests of TikTok, or any website, to issue a formal warning or suspension if a user’s posts were found to be in flagrant violation of the platform’s terms. People’s YouTube channels, for example, have been demonetized in many cases. Although it’s true that a TikToker’s views and engagement can drop dramatically, this is most often due to the creator’s recent content’s results. TikTok is most likely not secretly wishing to ban you, but is resisting.