Can You Get Banned for Following Too Fast on TikTok?

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Carolyn Howell

Last Updated: Sep 21, 2023

TikTok 101

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Is there such a thing as following too many TikTok accounts too quickly? Can you get banned for following too fast on TikTok? Find out TikTok’s limits and policies when it comes to following accounts.

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Is There a Follow Limit on TikTok?

Is there a follow limit on TikTok? As on other social media platforms, users have a maximum follow limit on TikTok.

On TikTok, a user can only follow up to 10,000 accounts overall and no more than 200 accounts per day. Facebook sets its cap at 5,000 friends. Instagram allows each user to follow up to 7,500 accounts in total.

Thanks to social media, the phrase “You can’t have too many friends” has been disproven. In reality, it would be impossible for anyone to keep track of thousands of Facebook friends or 

Instagram accounts. Given the massive number of uploads each second, it would be impossible for any single feed to accommodate every post. It makes sense to have a maximum follow limit.

There’s another practical reason for these limits. Setting a follow cap allows TikTok and other platforms to mitigate spammy behavior. The proliferation of so-called growth agencies and the ubiquitous presence of fake followers make these follow limits necessary. Although the precaution does not eliminate these undesirable elements, it controls them.

Can You Get Banned for Following Too Fast on TikTok? Find Out What Happens

Can you get banned for following too fast on TikTok? TikTok will send you a “Following too fast” notice when you hit too many follow buttons. According to TikTok, “In order to prevent spamming, we may disable a user’s account for 24 hours in these circumstances.”

The platform also monitors the volume and frequency of any single user’s likes and comments. This is part of TikTok’s efforts to curtail suspicious activity. You may also receive a notice saying, “Tapping too fast,” if you have been liking content too quickly. If you have been posting too many comments too quickly, you may receive a “Commenting too fast” notice.

When this happens, you should stick to watching videos sans liking and commenting for a few hours or so. That is if TikTok does not automatically disable your account. As with following too fast, expect to have your account disabled for 24 hours if TikTok tags you for spammy behavior.

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What Can Get You Banned on TikTok?

TikTok detects violations of its Community Guidelines through manual and automated evaluation. A violation may result in the removal of the pertinent content and account suspension. Repeated violations may result in permanent account deletion. In all such instances, TikTok sends a notification to the account owner.

Here’s a quick guide on TikTok violations and bans.

What Does It Mean When Your Content Is Under Review?

All new posts go “Under review” before TikTok publishes them. TikTok also reviews content that gains popularity or if a user reports it. If the review confirms a violation, TikTok takes the following steps:

  • Removes the content; 
  • Notifies the content owner of the content removal and the reason for said action; and
  • Gives the content owner the opportunity to appeal the decision.

Every new upload goes through an automated review to ensure it complies with TikTok’s content guidelines. When TikTok’s algorithm identifies a potential violation, the content is automatically removed or flagged for additional review by the app’s trust and safety team. The same process occurs when a video gains popularity (i.e., it receives too many likes too quickly) or is reported.

The app safeguards everyone’s safety by removing content or accounts that violate the guidelines before the content/accounts can cause harm.

What Happens to Your Account After TikTok Removes Content for a Violation?

When TikTok removes content that violates its Community Guidelines, it notifies the content owner of the consequences. You’ll find the notification in the Account Updates section of your inbox. Your Account Status section keeps a record of your violations, if there are any. Here are the most important things to remember:

  • TikTok keeps count of a user’s violations. 
  • Each violation earns the account owner a strike. 
  • TikTok counts strikes based on the policy area (e.g., safety and civility) or feature (e.g., comments or DMs) the user violated. 
  • The user receives a strike based on the severity of the violation. 
  • TikTok will impose a permanent account ban when an account reaches the threshold for the number of strikes. 
  • Repeated violations or the severity of a single violation may also result in a permanent account ban. 
  • Some violations related to an app feature may automatically result in a temporary access restriction to the feature.

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When Does TikTok Permanently Ban an Account?

The following violations may lead to a permanent account ban:

  • A user does not meet the minimum age or other requirements listed in TikTok’s Terms of Service.
  • The account impersonates another person or entity or engages in other deceptive behaviors.
  • The account posts, promotes, or facilitates youth exploitation or child sexual abuse material (CSAM). 
  • The account posts or promotes inappropriate content or content that depicts non-consensual sex acts. 
  • The account promotes or threatens violence. 
  • The account posts content that facilitates human trafficking. 
  • The account shares content that depicts real-world torture. 
  • A user creates an account to avoid restrictions or a permanent ban on another account intentionally. 
  • The account has committed a single but severe content violation.
  • The account has reached the threshold for multiple violations within a 90-day period.
  • The user violates TikTok’s Intellectual Property Policy multiple times. 
  • The account holder is “a violent or hateful actor or has been convicted of a sexual crime or other serious offense against a young person.”

Are Account Strikes Permanent?

Strikes on your account expire after 90 days. You can avoid a permanent ban by avoiding additional strikes and reaching the strike threshold for any policy area or feature. After 90 days, strikes accrued over the said period will no longer be considered for a permanent ban.

Will You Be Able To Access Your Account if TikTok Has Banned It?

If TikTok permanently bans your account, you will see a banner notification when you try to log in. The notification will inform you of the ban, and you can open it to appeal the ban. You can still log in to your account and download your personal data.

Keep in mind that TikTok deletes all personal data of banned accounts “after a period of time in accordance with applicable laws and [their] data retention policy.” After TikTok deletes your data, your account will also be gone for good.

Can You Get Banned for Buying Followers, Views, or Likes on TikTok?

Using third-party apps or sites to boost follower numbers or engagement is prevalent on TikTok and all other social platforms. TikTok discourages buying followers, views, or likes or any attempt to simulate growth or engagement artificially. However, these actions will not directly result in a permanent account ban.

Take note that TikTok can immediately detect spammy behavior. If you buy engagement and your video gets too many views or likes too quickly, it will go under review. When TikTok detects the fake engagement, it promptly removes the numbers. The same thing happens when you buy followers, and your follower count gets an instant and huge increase.

TikTok will notify you of these removals. Multiple similar incidents may earn you violation strikes on your account. Repeated violations may lead to an account ban.

You can minimize the risk of getting banned by taking precautions when buying followers, views, or engagement. For example, buy small quantities delivered gradually instead of a single, big-volume package delivered instantly.

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Growing Your TikTok Safely

Following accounts and liking videos is how you teach TikTok’s algorithm to recommend content that suits your interests. You may only receive a warning if you’re simply engaging in a following or like spree on TikTok. If you’re an aspiring creator and need help with your numbers, it’s best to grow your account slowly and safely. If you think buying numbers can help drive faster growth, there are ways to do it safely, too.

Whether or not you use a growth service, your number one priority must be targeted growth through proper TikTok SEO. Create content optimized for your target audience to provide TikTok’s recommendation algorithm with the right targeting indicators. With effective optimization, TikTok will match your content with users who are likely to be interested. With interested users viewing your content, you’ll have a higher chance of converting them into engaged followers. Optimized content is the surest and most direct route to gaining active TikTok followers.

If you need expert help for enhanced audience targeting, sign up for a High Social plan. Double your AI-powered targeting capability with High Social’s advanced, proprietary AI technology. Deliver your content to the For You feeds of more interested viewers each and every time you post.

Can you get banned for following too fast on TikTok? You may receive a 24-hour access restriction to your account if you’re “following too fast.” There are also consequences if your account receives too many follows, views, or engagements within a short period of time. You can avoid these consequences and still ensure sustained growth through High Social. Start growing your TikTok today!

TikTok 101