Some creators have opened the TikTok app to find they’ve been logged out and cannot log back in. This often means your account has been banned. While TikTok often warn you before reaching this point, they don’t always.
Like every social platform, TikTok has rules in place to keep the app safe for all users and creators. If an account is found to be going against these rules, or potentially causing harm on the platform, it’s likely the account will be banned.
Typically, the account holder will have multiple warnings before the ban occurs. But, there are times when TikTok will ban an account without any chance to rectify the issue. This is usually only done for a select number of reasons, and often can be appealed.
Why has TikTok deleted my account?
If you go to log onto your TikTok account and can’t, you may have been banned. Normally, you will see a pop-up explaining your account has been disabled and there is often an option to appeal the decision. If your account has been banned with no warning, here are the likely reasons:
1. TikTok thinks you’re underage
TikTok have a rule in place which only allows users over the age of 13 to create a profile and use the platform. In 2000, there was a rule passed called the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). It forbids anyone under 13 being on social media.
Despite this rule, there are many children who slip under the radar. YouTube, for example is filled with people under this restriction uploading video content to channels managed by themselves, with no parental involvement. It’s scary.
TikTok however have found themselves fined previously. They were fined $5.7 million for violating COPPAs rules and therefore they have had to tighten their rules since. The viral video platform deleted almost 7.5 million accounts.
These accounts belonged to users who were suspected to be under the age of 13. It isn’t always easy to confirm the ages of users, however. Any user could sign up and add a few years to their DOB to be old enough to continue.
If you find your account blocked, and you’re lucky enough to look young, you might need to prove your age before you can regain access to your account. TikTok will likely allow an appeal, and once you have submitted evidence of your DOB you should regain access.
2. You have uploaded sensitive content
As all social platforms do, TikTok has rules and regulations to protect those on their app. These rules are put in place to ensure everyone who uses TikTok does so, practically risk-free. When signing up to the platform, you agree to follow their terms.
You cannot post content which could be considered harmful or abusive to any other use, minority or minors. Also, you cannot upload anything including illegal content. By this, they are referring to content including things like drugs, and weapons.
With TikTok’s minimum age being 13, you cannot upload any X-rated content. Anything containing nudity or graphic violence will be removed from the app. Likewise, you cannot upload anything promoting self-harm, or political speech.
Normally, if anything of this nature has been uploaded, the video will be removed and the account holder will be warned. If the content is too extreme, or the user is regularly uploading this type of content, their account will likely be banned.
If you have been uploading content that is harmful in any way, you will not be able to appeal this. TikTok will not allow you access to your banned account due to the nature of your uploads. Likewise, if they find another account in your name, it will probably be removed.
3. Copyright
TikTok doesn’t allow content which has been stolen from another creator. Just like other social platforms, you cannot upload copyrighted content to TikTok. The platform themselves will be held responsible for any content distributed that belongs elsewhere.
You will most probably have a warning on your account or video first. Following this, your account will probably be muted, which means it is still active but will no longer be recommended to anyone, nor will it appear on the FYP.
Any music, speech, or video footage that doesn’t belong to you can fall under copyrighted content. Continually uploading this type of content can land you in trouble on the app. It will likely result in your account being banned.
4. Advertising policy violations
Normal accounts probably won’t find themselves in any trouble for talking about their favourite brands. However, large, influential accounts will need to follow the rules if they’re going to be advertising any company, or they risk being banned.
TikTok have advertising policies in place to protect creators, brands and viewers. Any content promoting a brand or product cannot be misleading. Links sending users outside of TikTok must be legitimate and cannot be spam.
If you’re advertising something that goes against TikTok’s rules, it probably won’t be published. TikTok are extremely hot on what ads make it to the platform. However, if yours does sneak through and doesn’t follow the rules, your account may be deleted.
5. Your account was mass-reported
Having your TikTok account reported doesn’t result in a ban. Often, one report doesn’t lead to anything. At most, your account will be monitored to see if the content you’re uploading is going against any guidelines.
However, if your account is regularly being reported, TikTok will start to take notice. If these reports are only coming from one account, TikTok will look into it, but may decide the reports are malicious and leave your account as it is.
But, for some creators, this isn’t the case. They may receive a lot of reports from a variety of accounts, especially if the content that has been upload is offending a certain group of people. Regular reports from multiple accounts will grab TikTok’s attention.
TikTok will review your whole account and might decide to ban it. You should be able to appeal this, but you aren’t guaranteed to win your appeal. Some accounts cannot even dispute this ban in the first place. It’s a case of it is what it is.
These are just a few reasons as to why TikTok might ban your account. Each account is unique and therefore, each situation is different. If you cannot access your account and fear it has been deleted, it’s likely you have been banned.
Typically, for those accounts that follow the rules, and avoid controversial topics there are no issues. However, once your account has been deleted, it might be hard to get it back. Often, TikTok’s decisions are final.
