The problem of TikTok issuing shadowbans goes in and out of public conversation but the story of a budding TikTok star's experience with this practice sheds light on a concerning problem with depressing implications. TikTok is often criticized both for its content and how it functions as a social media platform, but it also provides a unique entertainment medium, giving a voice to creators who may not have found an appropriate avenue otherwise. With the scrutiny TikTok receives these days, turning on its users isn't helping its case.

"Shadowbanning" describes the process by which a platform moderates content created by a user in such a way that it reduces the creator's exposure, but without ever directly informing the target that their content is being limited. Due to its surreptitious nature, debates about whether shadowbanning is even real are frequent. The proposed solutions to a suspected shadowban are typically aligned with examples of ways to increase social media exposure overall, which further lays the blame on the creator, freeing the platform of any responsibility or further scrutiny.

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When the issue was first covered at Screen Rant, the topic was addressed with the conclusion that shadowbanning is likely not real, on the grounds that it wouldn't make sense for a platform to limit viral creators and because it appeared solvable through smarter social marketing. However, following an interview with TikTok creator Abbie Richards (@tofizzle), in which evidence was presented that clearly represents either intentional interference from TikTok or some kind of malfunction within the For You algorithm, it's difficult to stand by the assessment that shadowbans are not real.

A Rising TikTok Star Is Gradually Silenced

TikTok Gold

Due to the nature of a shadowban, continuing to post content that won't find an audience is understandably discouraging, so it's rare for a creator to continue working on that platform. In Abbie's case, she has continued to publish TikTok videos and as a result, she's amassed enough data to show a pattern since the post she believes led to her shadowban. In her case, it may have started with a video published May 30, capturing an instance from a racial injustice protest in which a protester talks to an emotional police officer. The video gained over 6 million views and contributed to a surge in followers for Abbie.

After posting that, she followed up with other content related to the protest or supporting black creators on TikTok, but her usual focal point – a statistically-supported, comedic-yet-honest campaign to abolish golf – remained the primary topic of her channel. Abbie has established a social media presence in 2020 through pointed, viral anti-golf videos, with several of her posts racking up hundreds of thousands (or over 1 million) views. With so much content about the problems with golf, her content naturally touches on anti-capitalist ideas, which also contributes to the connection she's established with her audience. That success is best highlighted by Abbie being referenced on live TV when an ESPN broadcaster mentioned her by name, calling her "too avant-garde for Sportscenter".

It's worth examining Abbie's success on TikTok to illustrate the impact of her shadowban. After months of videos with views well over 100,000, and almost immediately after a post with 6 million views, Abbie's posts dropped to the 4000-9000 range. In the interview, she mentions having tried every suggested solution, from reinstalling TikTok to contacting support, to no avail or response from the company. Furthermore, her account analytics clearly show her traffic from the For You page has evaporated. Her For You traffic dropped to just 10% of her traffic for a video promoting black creators posted after the aforementioned protest video, and since then, For You traffic isn't even listed as a traffic source. She is also restricted from going live on TikTok. Neither phenomenon has been explained to Abbie, and TikTok has also refrained from responding when questioned by Screen Rant.

tofizzle analytics

With the app essentially telling Abbie she has no For You presence, despite her account having zero violations or warnings, there are very few conclusions to draw. It could be a bug or a shadowban, but either way, it warrants a response from TikTok.

More: TikTok Math Tutor: How A Teen Went Viral Teaching Math Lessons To Others

Source: Abbie Richards