Potential Shadow Ban Help/Advice

Think I've been shadow banned. So, I've been doing the follow/unfollow method for the last 2 weeks. I recently opened up a third account and tried dropping a new video filmed in the app to try see if it would get the first vid boost possibly go viral. I used a picture of me topless (got jeans on, I do gym/training videos) as my display pic. I'm thinking this may have got me flagged. I put the video out on my third account and bombed, not a single view. I go back my to first, original account which I'm doing manual follow/unfollow method on and drop a video the next day, it's got 3 views and I have 350 followers. I'm confident I've been banned, is this due to the display pic? As I've seen other gym guys have topless display pic to show muscles etc? And they still get views. From what I've read, the follow/unfollow method shouldn't result in a ban. Also, is this something that will go away or should I just give up on my main account now?im worried they've banned my IP/device as both accounts have bombed and one was brand new. Any help appreciated

Never topless. Never. NEVER.

Even big fitness accounts, the guys are usually wearing a T or some type of hoodie. The system really punishes nudity. Even 'salmon coloured tops' for women get flagged at times.

Give it time. One of my accounts got flagged for mentioning 'holy cow' (didn't realize it wasn't just an expression, but actually the religious thing in India) -- just keep posting.

I believe that the system works on an 'account score'

- meaning your accounts get a score
- the better the score, the more is 'accepted'
- the worse your score, the less is accepted

If you do something 'in violation' with a low account score, you get a longer punishment

Makes sense, algorithmic version of a 3-strike system.
Similar to how if you get 'blocked for following too fast' once, then twice, then thrice.

Each time, the time increases + the amount you can follow decreases.

Williamsonsondvn said:

Never topless. Never. NEVER.

Even big fitness accounts, the guys are usually wearing a T or some type of hoodie. The system really punishes nudity. Even 'salmon coloured tops' for women get flagged at times.

Give it time. One of my accounts got flagged for mentioning 'holy cow' (didn't realize it wasn't just an expression, but actually the religious thing in India) -- just keep posting.

I believe that the system works on an 'account score'

- meaning your accounts get a score
- the better the score, the more is 'accepted'
- the worse your score, the less is accepted

If you do something 'in violation' with a low account score, you get a longer punishment

Makes sense, algorithmic version of a 3-strike system.
Similar to how if you get 'blocked for following too fast' once, then twice, then thrice.

Each time, the time increases + the amount you can follow decreases.

Click to expand...

Thanks a lot, you've been really helpful with my TikTok journey so far. If it helps for your analysis or anyone else. I deleted the third account I created and dropped another tester video on my first original account which I'm doing the manual follow/unfollow method. I went to bed, woke up and the tester video has 148 views and my original video which had 3 views now has 81 views. So, I'm assuming by me deleting the third account, it removed my bad score and put me back in good standing with my first original account. This is speculation though, I'm not really sure what's going on. TikTok is a strange beast indeed.

Mmm, Tiktok is a strange beast, I think that tiktok as a platform has to be VERY careful. There are millions of kids on the platform, I don't need to spell out the risks and possible situations that might arise from having so many vulnerable young people in one "place".

I agree with what Williamsonsondvn has said above, for the reason I mention.

RastaMouse said:

Thanks a lot, you've been really helpful with my TikTok journey so far. If it helps for your analysis or anyone else. I deleted the third account I created and dropped another tester video on my first original account which I'm doing the manual follow/unfollow method. I went to bed, woke up and the tester video has 148 views and my original video which had 3 views now has 81 views. So, I'm assuming by me deleting the third account, it removed my bad score and put me back in good standing with my first original account. This is speculation though, I'm not really sure what's going on. TikTok is a strange beast indeed.

Click to expand...

You're welcome. Be sure to follow my 'TikTok journey' thread in which I'll be doing more experiments and sharing information with you all!

I can't tell for sure if it's you deleting the third account, a timer having run out or some other random metric we know nothing about.

(here my new thread: https://www.blackhatworld.com/seo/multiple-new-accounts-tiktok-growth-journey.1203712/)

CrazyeyeZ said:

Mmm, Tiktok is a strange beast, I think that tiktok as a platform has to be VERY careful. There are millions of kids on the platform, I don't need to spell out the risks and possible situations that might arise from having so many vulnerable young people in one "place".

I agree with what Williamsonsondvn has said above, for the reason I mention.

Click to expand...

Exactly. TikTok already has faced many issues (and lawsuits, if I recall correctly) when it comes to child related matters.
Also some big 'child predator' cases in the US.

Of course, the same applied to other platforms, however.. the age limit was usually 12+ (or 13+ in some countries), whilst now many 6-8-10 year olds are on the platform as well.
They have to be strict.

Keep in mind it's a chinese app, and their political system strictly forbids any sexual connotations

Williamsonsondvn said:

You're welcome. Be sure to follow my 'TikTok journey' thread in which I'll be doing more experiments and sharing information with you all!

I can't tell for sure if it's you deleting the third account, a timer having run out or some other random metric we know nothing about.

(here my new thread: https://www.blackhatworld.com/seo/multiple-new-accounts-tiktok-growth-journey.1203712/)

Click to expand...

Will do man. Keep up the good work! Look forward to seeing your findings. Thanks again

Williamsonsondvn said:

Exactly. TikTok already has faced many issues (and lawsuits, if I recall correctly) when it comes to child related matters.
Also some big 'child predator' cases in the US.

Of course, the same applied to other platforms, however.. the age limit was usually 12+ (or 13+ in some countries), whilst now many 6-8-10 year olds are on the platform as well.
They have to be strict.

Click to expand...

Update incase it helps your research/analysis. On Friday I posted another video which got about 91 views so I felt comfortable that I'd cleared the shadow ban or whatever was going on. Saturday I managed to setup my Try Jeffrey 3 day trial. I posted a video the same day and it's been shadow banned. I've posted a second video today which also appears to be shadow banned so now I'm just confused. The 2 latest videos are more of a message than a visual videos so it's just text but done via in app recording. I'm wondering if somehow TikTok has detected these as low quality videos and decided not to push them? Or maybe I am shadow banned. If so, this could quite possibly be due to me using automation as my two previous videos were pushed. Very frustrating!

RastaMouse said:

Update incase it helps your research/analysis. On Friday I posted another video which got about 91 views so I felt comfortable that I'd cleared the shadow ban or whatever was going on. Saturday I managed to setup my Try Jeffrey 3 day trial. I posted a video the same day and it's been shadow banned. I've posted a second video today which also appears to be shadow banned so now I'm just confused. The 2 latest videos are more of a message than a visual videos so it's just text but done via in app recording. I'm wondering if somehow TikTok has detected these as low quality videos and decided not to push them? Or maybe I am shadow banned. If so, this could quite possibly be due to me using automation as my two previous videos were pushed. Very frustrating!

Click to expand...

Has the bot been doing anything on your account? That might be causing it

Williamsonsondvn said:

Has the bot been doing anything on your account? That might be causing it

Click to expand...

Well, after more testing, I think I've figured it out. My account wasn't shadow banned, but the particular videos I released were shadow banned. Basically TikTok's AI system detected that there was no one in the video and apparently it can pick up body and facial movements. When this isn't detected, it gets concerned that the video may contain stuff like weapons etc. So I think this is why they didn't get the push. I dropped a normal video of me Training and that video got the push again so it seems the AI is very advanced. My video were just message vids, I wasn't in them and I guess the system picked that up. Thanks for your time.