TikTok Introduces Shadow Ban and 'Account Check' Tool for Rule-Breaking Creators

TikTok's new shadow ban policy involves making an entire account temporarily ineligible for recommendation in the For You feed if a creator repeatedly posts content that goes against TikTok's For You feed standards. Their account and content will also be harder to find in search, and creators will be notified when their account has been restricted in this way, with the option to appeal.

If a creator receives a warning strike and believes a mistake has been made, TikTok will notify them about which rule they've broken. Creators can then appeal the decision. The process for appealing will be communicated to the creator along with the notification of the strike.

The TikTok Account Check tool is a new feature that enables creators to audit their account and their last 30 posts quickly. It allows them to see at a glance whether they are in good standing on TikTok, including information about whether access to certain features like comments or direct messaging has been restricted due to violations, and whether their content has been removed or restricted from reaching the For You feed.

The TikTok Creator Code of Conduct outlines the standards TikTok expects creators involved in TikTok programs, features, events, and campaigns to follow, both on and off-platform. This is in addition to adhering to TikTok's Community Guidelines and Terms of Service. The new code of conduct will take effect in the coming weeks.

For serious breaches of TikTok's Community Guidelines, such as incitement to violence, there is a zero-tolerance policy. Accounts that commit these serious breaches are not eligible for reminders or warnings and will immediately be banned from the platform.