Tiktok Temporarily Blocked From Posting

TikTok is unlike any other social media platform. It gets to know users pretty fast, and it's the perfect realm for artistic expression, particularly dance. However, even though it's hugely popular, TikTok is not available everywhere. Some countries have even enforced a TikTok ban.

How to Get Around a TikTok Ban

Also, as a platform with primarily young users, TikTok has established strict guidelines, and failure to abide by them leads to temporary account bans. These efforts have led users to come up with various ways to get around these bans.

But with TikTok, that's often easier said than done. This article will explore the leading causes of the TikTok ban, and the best ways to bypass them.

Where Is TikTok Banned?

Before we get into which countries have banned TikTok, let's see why they would do that in the first place. Some countries have either temporarily banned or censored TikTok due to its "inappropriate content."

This type of ban is typically issued by conservative governments. This was the case in Bangladesh and Indonesia, where TikTok was banned briefly, then reinstated but with new censorship.

In Pakistan, TikTok is entirely banned due to "inappropriate content." In July 2021, the app was banned there for the fourth time.

The other and more prevalent cause of TikTok bans is perceived security threats associated with the platform. The issue stems from the fact that TikTok is owned by a Chinese company called ByteDance. Some governments believe that even a private Chinese company can't refuse their government's request to access users' data. These concerns have led the Indian government to ban the use of TikTok in the nation since June 2020.

Still, there were nearly 200 million TikTok users in India, and the country used to be the company's biggest foreign market. Naturally, the news about this ban echoed worldwide and made other countries contemplate the TikTok ban as well.

What Other Reasons Might Get You Banned?

Countries banning TikTok are well-known, but TikTok can ban users even in the country where the app is freely used. That occurs when specific users are not abiding the TikTok's community guidelines.

Over the years, TikTok has had its fair share of controversies, mainly about the type of content it features. As the popularity of the app grew, so did the guidelines evolve.

While there is plenty of content on TikTok that some might categorize as controversial and problematic, users need to break the platform's specific rules to get a ban. The community guidelines are fully explained on TikTok's official Help page, and users should go through them in detail.

Most of the rules have to do with keeping dangerous actions away from the platform. Therefore, users that promote any type of violence, extremism, hateful behavior, and illegal activities will receive an automatic ban.

Also, users creating content that contains an invitation to self-harm, sexual activities, or puts a minor in danger will get kicked off TikTok. Finally, users may get temporarily banned if the app detects spammy activity or is reported by users as spam.

How to Bypass a TikTok Ban

In general, if TikTok has banned your account due to violations of community guidelines, there is no bypassing it. You can appeal and ask for the ban to be lifted, but more on that later.

However, bypassing a TikTok ban is only a viable option if you're using the app in a country where it is not officially banned. If you were to travel in India, for example, you wouldn't be able to use your TikTok app regardless of whether you're banned or not.

The only solution to a ban is to use a trustworthy virtual private network (VPN) service. But how does that work exactly? First, you should know that a VPN connects your device to a server in another part of the country or the world, making it appear as if your IP address is based in that location.

So, to get around a TikTok ban, you need to choose a VPN that can successfully hide your actual IP location from TikTok.

With this process, it's best to forget about free services and choose a great product like ExpressVPN. It's super-fast, offers a significant number of server locations, and has excellent customer support.

So, here's how you can use ExpressVPN to access TikTok in a country where it's banned:

On the official website, subscribe to the VPN service.
Then, download the Android or iOS mobile app on your phone.
Log into your account, then select a VPN server in a country that supports TikTok. Make sure to pick the geographically closest country because you'll get better speeds.

In case you have issues with this method, you may have to factory reset your phone and strip it of any identification.

If the local internet service provider blocks the TikTok mobile app, even the VPN won't help. However, if TikTok was merely removed from the app stores, the VPN can bypass this issue.

Keep in mind that even if your ISP banned the TikTok app, you might still be able to access it via a browser on the TikTok website, phone or computer.

Additional FAQs

Can I get my banned account back with these methods?

It can be very upsetting to wake up one morning and realize your TikTok account has been banned. TikTok has been known to suspend user accounts for various issues, often in one massive purge at a time.

This can pose a particular problem to users with large followings who have made their careers on TikTok. There is some light at the end of this dark tunnel, though.

Even if your account was banned, there is a chance to get it back. TikTok removes many accounts rightfully, but some users have unjustly been affected. So, if something like this happened to you, and you feel it has been done in error, here's what you should do:

1. Open the notification from TikTok informing you that you have been banned.

2. Tap "Appeal."

3. Follow all the prompts on the screen.

You will have the opportunity to make your case about why your account was banned by mistake. TikTok will review your appeal and determine the right course of action.

TikTok has a term for these situations. They call it "human moderation errors," meaning that unfair bans indeed do happen.

Is using a VPN to bypass in a banned country illegal?

In India, the government has not made it illegal to bypass the TikTok ban with a VPN. Many users rely on VPN services to enjoy TikTok content.

However, that doesn't mean it won't change in the future. But it's also possible they'll lift the TikTok ban as well. That's why it's essential to keep tabs on these issues when traveling to a country where a specific app is banned.

How long does a TikTok ban last?

A temporary ban due to a violation of the community guidelines can last anywhere from one day to two weeks. After the suspension expires, you can go back to business as usual but should be mindful of the TikTok policies.

However, there is also a permanent TikTok ban. It usually occurs when a user has violated multiple policies over a short period.

If that happens, you'll see a message saying that your account has been permanently banned. The only recourse is to open a new TikTok account (under a different name) and follow all the rules.

Is TikTok banned in Hong Kong?

If you were to travel to Hong Kong, you'd notice that it doesn't have access to TikTok. But that's not because it was banned. On the contrary, in mid-2020, TikTok has decided to withdraw its services from Hong Kong.

They've cited China's newly imposed security laws on the city as the reason. The users that have up to that point enjoyed the app have received a notification informing them of the discontinuation of TikTok services in the city.

Will TikTok be banned in the US?

The talk about banning TikTok in the U.S. has been active for a while due to "risks to national security." There was even mention of an executive order that would implement this ban immediately. Fortunately, TikTok is not banned or censored in the U.S. for now, but individual users can still get kicked off the platform or violating guidelines.

Enjoying the TikTok Trends Safely Everywhere

The popularity of TikTok is growing by the day. So, it's difficult to imagine that the app is banned or censored in some places. However, that's the reality, but users who enjoy learning fun choreographies and making sketches have a way to bypass the issue.

A VPN service can be incredibly effective, but it won't be a workaround if the local ISP has banned the mobile app altogether. You can always enjoy TikTok via browser, but that definitely dampers the experience.

Also, not following community guidelines can lead to individual TikTok bans. Some of these bans are temporary and serve as a warning, and others are permanent.

Did TikTok ever ban your account? Would you use a VPN to access TikTok? Let us know in the comments section below.