TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, allowing users to create, share, and engage with short videos. Following other accounts is an important part of the TikTok experience, as it helps you build your feed and stay connected with content creators you enjoy. However, some users experience a frustrating issue where TikTok won’t let them follow anyone.
If you’ve encountered this problem, there are several reasons it could be happening — ranging from technical glitches to restrictions placed by TikTok itself. Let’s break them down in detail.
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Daily or Hourly Follow Limits
TikTok has rules in place to prevent spam and bot-like activity. One of these is the follow limit.
- Daily limit: Users can only follow a certain number of accounts per day, generally around 200 accounts.
- Hourly limit: If you follow too many people in a short period of time, TikTok might temporarily block you from following more accounts.
If you’ve been aggressively following multiple accounts, this might be the main reason TikTok won’t let you follow anyone.
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Account Under Review or Temporary Restriction
TikTok regularly monitors accounts for suspicious activity. If the platform detects unusual behavior such as:
- Following too many accounts at once,
- Rapid liking, commenting, or spamming,
- Using automated tools or bots,
it may temporarily restrict your account. These restrictions can last for a few hours or even several days.
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Poor Internet Connection or App Glitches
Sometimes, the issue isn’t related to rules but to technical problems:
- Weak internet connection may prevent your follow request from going through.
- App bugs or outdated versions of TikTok may cause temporary glitches.
To fix this, check your internet connection, clear the TikTok app cache, or update to the latest version of the app.
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TikTok Shadowban
In some cases, TikTok may silently restrict certain activities on your account — a situation often referred to as a shadowban. This usually happens if you violate TikTok’s community guidelines. During a shadowban, you may notice limited engagement on your content and restrictions in following new users.
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Age or Account Restrictions
TikTok has strict rules for younger users:
- Accounts owned by users under 16 may have limited features for safety reasons.
- TikTok may also place restrictions on new accounts until they establish a history of normal activity.
If your account is very new or linked to age restrictions, following too many accounts may be limited.
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Server or Platform Issues
Sometimes, the problem is on TikTok’s side. If TikTok’s servers are experiencing downtime or temporary issues, some features like following, liking, or posting may not work properly.
What You Can Do to Fix It
If TikTok is not letting you follow anyone, here are some steps you can take:
- Wait for a few hours or a day if you’ve hit the follow limit.
- Avoid spam-like behavior (rapid following, commenting, or liking).
- Clear your app cache and update TikTok.
- Use a stable internet connection.
- Review TikTok’s community guidelines to make sure you’re not violating rules.
- If the problem persists, contact TikTok support through the app.
Also Read: Why does my TikTok have zero views?
