What Is Wrong With TikTok? From App Issues to a Looming Ban

What is wrong with TikTok? If you’re experiencing app issues, there are simple solutions you can try. Are you wondering about the looming ban on the app in the U.S. and losing access to your favorite creators? We have the latest update! 

What Is Wrong With TikTok Today? Common Issues and How To Fix Them

What is wrong with TikTok today? If you’re experiencing app issues, they’re likely technical in nature. Servers may be down, or it may be an internet connectivity problem on your end. Let’s look at the common TikTok app issues and how to fix them. 

TikTok Servers Are down

Is your For You feed not refreshing? Are TikTok videos not loading smoothly? Or perhaps you’re experiencing sound issues. You may wonder, “What’s wrong with Tik Tok?” The first thing you can do is open a browser and find out if TikTok is down. 

Users are quick to report app issues, particularly on message boards. If there’s a sitewide outage or even just a local one, you’ll find out about it online. If you can trace the problem back to TikTok servers, the only other thing you can do is wait it out.  

A New Update Is Available for Download

TikTok regularly releases software updates to improve app function or introduce new features. Depending on your device settings, your phone may not automatically install new updates, which means your app could be behind by more than a few software updates. 

An outdated software is likely to cause compatibility issues, which could be the cause of your TikTok app problems. 

Follow these steps to check for a TikTok update:

1. Open Google Play Store or the App Store. 
2. Search for TikTok, then tap it. 
3. An Update button will appear if one is available; tap it. 

For good measure, close all running apps in the background. Once the update is done, you may also restart your device. Then, relaunch TikTok to see if things are working normally again.  

You should also go to your device settings and find the settings for your downloaded apps. Open the settings for TikTok and enable the auto-download option for updates. 

Your App/Device Cache Is Full

Do you browse TikTok for hours every day? Do you save a lot of videos to your Favorites? Do you have a lot of unpublished TikTok Drafts? All of these combined can quickly fill up your app/device cache. 

The app/device cache stores image files, video files, even the TikTok For You feed layout, and certain browsing information. 

When you create a lot of TikTok Drafts, these take up space in your device storage. When you save a lot of videos to your TikTok Favorites folder, these are also added to your app cache. 

A full cache can slow down the app and cause problems with certain features. The good news is the problem is easy to fix! 

1. Go to your Profile. 
2. Tap the Menu/three-line icon in the top right. 
3. Select Settings and privacy. 
4. Under Cache & Cellular, tap Free up space. 
5. Tap Clear next to Cache. Tap Clear next to Downloads. Tap Manage next to Drafts. 

Connectivity Issues

If your data connection is slow or if local internet servers are down, TikTok and all other internet-based apps will not work properly. You may also experience connectivity issues if you’re on the move and using data or a public WiFi network. 

Try the following fixes:

1. Turn off your device’s WiFi, then turn it back on. 
2. Open a browser or another app to see if you’ll have trouble connecting. 
3. Find a different network or switch to data if you’re using public WiFi. 
4. If you’re using data, connect to public WiFi. 
5. If you’re using your home network, restart your modem. Then, go online to check your connection. If the problem persists, contact your service provider. 

Is It a Shadowban?

Did you lose access to certain app features? Did viewership and engagement for your new posts suddenly become non-existent? A TikTok shadowban is the likely answer. 

A shadowban is not an official TikTok punishment. However, the platform has stated that certain Community Guidelines violations can lead to temporary account restrictions. Check your inbox in case you missed TikTok’s notification regarding a violation. You can appeal TikTok’s decision by tapping the notification. 

Restrictions may include:

• Inability to access certain TikTok features, such as LIVE and Gifts. 
• Reduced visibility of new posts on feeds. 
• TikTok removing certain posts linked to the violation. 

TikTok may also penalize you if you’ve been attempting to manipulate your metrics by buying views, followers, likes, etc. In addition to removing the fake numbers from your account, the platform may give your posts minimal to zero visibility on feeds. 

Remember that whenever you use a growth service to buy numbers, you expose your account to spamming and serious security risks. 

If you believe you’re under a shadowban, your only choice is to wait it out. Creating another account to avoid the penalty also goes against TikTok’s guidelines and can lead to a more serious punishment. 

TikTok Problems: What’s the Latest on TikTok’s Potential Ban?

What’s wrong with TikTok that the U.S. government wants to ban it? Most of TikTok’s problems involve data privacy and dangerous challenges, which TikTok has managed to control. 

However, the social media company continues to have a tough time refuting claims that it poses a “national security threat” to the U.S. We can trace such claims back to TikTok’s presumed connection to the Chinese government via its parent company, ByteDance. 

Unless ByteDance, a Chinese company, sells the platform within the year to a non-Chinese-owned entity, TikTok would be banned in the U.S. on April 24th, President Joe Biden signed the TikTok Ban Bill giving ByteDance nine months to divest itself from the app. 

The company could get a three-month extension from the POTUS depending on the progress of its disengagement from TikTok. 

In response, TikTok sued the U.S. government for the unconstitutionality of the signed law. In its official statement, TikTok claims that the law would “bar every American from participating in a unique online community with more than 1 billion people worldwide.”

The first failed attempts to force the sale of TikTok began under the Trump administration. The justification, citing “national security concerns,” has remained unchanged despite the lack of incontrovertible proof. 

Prior to the recent signing of the TikTok Ban Bill into law, the federal government has already banned the app from all government devices. Several state universities also followed suit. 

Many experts have pointed out that the supposed privacy risks linked to TikTok also apply to Facebook and Google. Millions of users in the U.S. are also unhappy that the U.S. is singling out TikTok because of continuing tensions with China. 

Should You Be Worried About TikTok’s Future?

Brands, content creators, and regular users in the U.S. are closer than ever to the possibility of completely losing TikTok access. Building a solid community on any platform takes a lot of time, effort, and even money. 

If the U.S. government implements the nationwide ban, hundreds of millions of users will suffer in various ways. 

What is wrong with TikTok? Most app issues are easy to resolve, but TikTok’s ownership problems in the U.S. are a trickier dilemma. If you’re a brand or content creator on the platform, take advantage of the time to keep growing your community. 

Sign up for a High Social plan to get additional targeting power. If the worst happens, you can carry over your strong presence on TikTok to another platform. 

Continue building a loyal and engaged fan base with High Social’s advanced, proprietary AI technology. You’ll instantly double your audience-targeting capability and connect with more viewers who will stick with you on and off TikTok. Start growing your TikTok today!

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