What Are Prohibited Practices?

The Creator Terms of Use outlines a list of behaviours and practices that creators must not engage in. Creators are responsible for ensuring that they do not engage in any of the following practices.

Engaging in Illegal or Criminal Activities

This involves using the platform for activities that are prohibited by laws and regulations, or may result in civil liability. Examples include:

• Money laundering
• Identity theft
• Scams

Misusing Personal or Sensitive Information

This involves collecting, sharing, or misusing personal or sensitive information on the platform. Examples include:

• Using malicious tactics to interact with other users on the platform with the intention of collecting personal or sensitive information for illegitimate reasons
• Sharing or uploading sensitive or personal information without consent of the information owner

Fraudulent Account Activity

This occurs when a creator uses malicious methods to circumvent the platform's security measures in order to create fake accounts or bypass account restrictions. Examples of such activity may include:

• Using malicious software or bots to generate fake TikTok accounts
• Abnormal login activity
• Association with accounts that have received bans or enforcement actions

Engaging in Fake Orders

Fake orders refer to any platform orders that have not been placed by legitimate buyers. Fake orders can be placed by the creators themselves or individual(s) connected to the creator. Examples include:

• Placing orders via their own showcase, short videos, or livestreams with the intention of:
  • Generating fake sales performance/traffic
  • Abusing platform incentives and subsidies
  • Winning campaign rewards
• Placing orders on behalf of customers who do not have accounts

Traffic Manipulation

This involves generating traffic through improper means. Examples include:

• Using third-party service providers or bots to increase likes, followers, shares, comments on a livestream
• Using fake offers and promotions to entice users to take specific actions to attract views, orders, likes in order to obtain higher exposure and recommended traffic

Harmful Behavior

This involves using the platform in any way that causes harm, loss, or damage to other users. This may include repeatedly requesting free samples without fulfilling promotion obligations.
Please be reminded to avoid making any false claims regarding platform features, such as the TikTok PayLater feature.

• Clearly state that TikTok PayLater eligibility varies by user, and creators cannot influence approval.
• Do not make false claims (e.g., buying or engaging with LIVE increases approval chances).
• Guide users to check their eligibility on key TikTok Shop pages (Home, Product Page, Order Center, Order Completion).
• Remind viewers that TikTok PayLater is optional and other payment methods are available.

What happens if I engage in these practices?

If you are found to violate the Terms of Use, you may have enforcement actions taken against your account. You should note that repeated offenses will result in more significant penalties. Additional enforcement actions may also be taken against linked shops found to engage in the above behaviours.
Please see our Creator Performance Evaluation Policy and Creator Terms of Use for more information. If you think an enforcement action has been taken against you in error, please raise an appeal via the TikTok App.