My TikTok Videos Aren’t Visible To My Followers — Why?

No matter how hard you try and what methods you use to find new TikTok audiences, there’s one reassuring fact you can rely on: at least your existing TikTok followers will see the new videos you upload.

Until they don’t.

Yes, it does occasionally happen that you create a new TikTok post and it goes virtually unseen, even by your fan base.

What’s gone wrong? There are several possibilities; let’s explore them.

Why Is TikTok Not Showing My Videos to My Followers?

We’ll start with the most common reason why a TikTok video may seem invisible.

1. “Under Review”

If you’ve ever looked to make sure that your TikTok upload has worked, you may have seen an “Under Review” flag in the upper-left corner. That essentially means what it says: you can see the video, but no one else can. It has to be approved before it goes live on the social media platform.

There’s usually nothing to worry about. TikTok’s automated moderation system now checks every post, making sure there are no “red flags” indicating that the video may violate the app’s Community Standards or TikTok’s terms and conditions.

In most cases, the content is fine and the post goes live quickly. If your followers can’t see your video within a few minutes of the upload, go get something to drink and chill. It generally doesn’t take long for the “Under Review” flag to be removed and the video to be visible to your TikTok fans.

In rare cases, the system does find something potentially problematic. When that happens, the content is sent for human moderation; depending on the size of the moderation queue, it could be a week or longer before the flag comes down and your video goes live (or you receive a dreaded TikTok notification). The same thing could happen if someone has reported your post.

If you have a clean record (users who regularly break the rules may have all of their posts sent for human review) and you’re sure your TikTok content is OK, stay calm. It will be released from moderation and visible to your followers rapidly. If your video stays under review for a day or longer, you can contact TikTok support to ask about it, but don’t expect a quick response.

2. A Shadowban

Human reviews aren’t all you have to worry about if you’ve broken the app’s content rules in the past. You’re notified of serious violations, but “questionable” videos may simply result in what’s called a shadowban, which restricts visibility for your posts with no warning.

Shadowbans generally don’t last long, no longer than two weeks, and they’re then removed (also with no notice). If your followers can’t see your videos and you may have previously crossed the line once or twice, wait 10-14 days (and don’t violate any more rules). Your posts should be visible after that.

3. Your Account Is Private

Only your approved followers can see the videos you upload when you have a private account. Fans not being able to view your content could indicate that their follower requests are sitting in your TikTok inbox, waiting for your approval.

If you don’t normally check the Inbox, give it a look. You could have huge numbers of potential followers just waiting for your OK.

4. TikTok Is Having a Problem

System issues are rare and almost always short-lived, but it’s possible that your followers can’t see your posts because of a TikTok glitch. Wait a few minutes, and your video should reappear if the problem is on TikTok’s end.

Finally, here’s a pro tip. Check the follower tab in your TikTok Analytics, which will show you when your fans are most likely to be online and interacting with your posts. Schedule your uploads for those times, and the majority of your fans will see your videos right away — before they’re buried below other content in their feeds.