Policy AdvisorPolicyTikTok Source

Prohibited Content for Platform Safety

Captured: TikTok page date: Hash: 9430d049cfa7

Creator TL;DR

AI-generated from the captured TikTok policy text. Verify against the TikTok source before acting.

TikTok Shop prohibits content that is unsafe, deceptive, illegal, sexualized, discriminatory, or that exploits minors. Creators must keep promotional content respectful, accurate, and appropriate for general audiences, and follow both this page and the TikTok Shop Content Policy.

Key points

  • Avoid harmful, risky, misleading, or inappropriate content.
  • Do not target minors or use minors in product promotions.
  • Do not show or promote illegal, fraudulent, or deceptive activity.
  • Do not show, use, or promote drugs, tobacco, nicotine, or related tools.
  • Do not post nudity, sexualized behavior, or suggestive product demos.
  • Do not use discriminatory, violent, harassing, or hateful content.
  • Do not include crude, vulgar, or disturbing products or imagery.
  • Use accurate, transparent product info and neutral presentation.
  • Expect enforcement actions for violations, including content removal and account restrictions.

Say / show

  • Keep content honest, transparent, and legal.
  • Use neutral, informative language about product features.
  • Use professional camera angles that do not emphasize intimate body parts.
  • Use mannequins, flat-lays, or torso props for revealing items when appropriate.
  • Verify content against the TikTok source before acting.

Do not say / show

  • Do not use misleading or exaggerated claims.
  • Do not use unrelated attention-grabbing material to sell products.
  • Do not include hidden cameras, surveillance without consent, scams, malware, phishing, or traffic-inflating tools.
  • Do not feature minors as promoters or target them with giveaways or themed content.
  • Do not show drugs, tobacco, nicotine, vaping, or smoking-related tools in videos or LIVEs.
  • Do not use nudity, sexual gestures, explicit imagery, or sexualized captions.
  • Do not use discriminatory, violent, harassing, or hateful material.

Violation risks

  • Creator Health Rating points may be deducted.
  • Content may be removed.
  • Feature access may be removed.
  • Commission earnings may be restricted.
  • Creator account may be restricted or removed.

Who it affects

  • Creators
  • Sellers
  • Content in videos
  • Content in LIVEs
  • Content involving minors
  • Content promoting products
  • Content in comments and chats

Source notes

  • All content is subject to TikTok Shop Content Policy and Community Guidelines.
  • The page says the rules apply even when you are not selling the prohibited product.
  • The page says to report violations through the Share > Report flow.
  • The page says to appeal enforcement through TikTok Shop for Creators > Account Standing > Violations.
  • Verify against the TikTok source before acting.

Confidence: high · Model: gpt-5.4-mini · Prompt: creator-policy-summary-v1

Readable Policy Copy

Captured policy content rendered without TikTok navigation, scripts, tracking markup, or page chrome. Source: article-html.

Key Points:
  • Do not post content that is harmful, illegal, misleading, or exploits minors.
  • Do not target minors or feature them in product promotions.
  • Create respectful, accurate, and safe content that supports a positive community.
At TikTok Shop, we aim to keep the platform safe, respectful, and compliant with our requirements for all creators and sellers. These requirements outline prohibited content and provide guidance on acceptable alternatives. In addition, all content is subject to our Content Policy. Creators must comply with both this document and our Content Policy when creating content on the platform.

Keep Your Content Safe and Appropriate

To help ensure a positive experience for all users, do not share or promote content that is unsafe, misleading, or inappropriate for general audiences. The following content is not allowed:
  • Suggests or depicts harmful or risky behavior
  • Contains misleading or exaggerated claims
  • Uses unrelated or attention-grabbing material to promote products
  • Features unverifiable or manipulated content, including AI-generated material (content created or modified by artificial intelligence).
For more guidance, please refer to our Best Practices for Promotional Content to help keep your livestreams safe and compliant.

Illegal and Fraudulent Content

Content involving illegal or deceptive activities is strictly prohibited.

What is Prohibited?

  • Misleading, spam, or fraudulent behavior in content, comments, or chats
  • Promotions involving illegal activities, such as gambling, scams, or counterfeit goods
  • Inappropriate surveillance behaviour, such as tracking and monitoring without consent, with the use of hidden cameras
  • Impersonating individuals or organizations
  • Links to malware, phishing pages, or auto-download sites
  • Tools or services that artificially inflate traffic, likes, or orders
  • Tactics that mislead users into clicking, buying, or engaging
  • False claims about donations or proceeds going to charities or third parties

What To Do Instead?

  • Share honest, transparent content across all interactions
  • Promote accurate and legal product information
  • Use only authorized landing pages and respect user privacy
  • Keep content free of deceptive or harmful software

High-Risk Regulated Goods

TikTok Shop does not allow content that shows, uses, promotes, or suggests the use of high-risk regulated goods. This applies to both videos and LIVEs. It applies even when you are not selling the product.

What is Prohibited?

There are two categories of high-risk regulated goods.
Drugs and drug paraphernalia
  • Showing drugs, drug paraphernalia, or related tools and accessories. Drugs include cannabis, THC, and CBD-infused products. We take action the moment these appear.
  • Using or consuming drugs where viewers can clearly see it.
  • Promoting drugs or drug use, such as glorifying, encouraging, or endorsing them.
  • Suggesting drug use through slang, terms, or behavior. One example is shaking uncontrollably after injecting or smoking an unknown substance.
Tobacco, nicotine products, and smoking-related tools/accessories
  • Making a tobacco or nicotine product, or a smoking-related tool, the main focus of your content
  • Smoking or consuming these products where viewers can clearly see them.
  • Promoting these products, such as glorifying, encouraging, or endorsing them.
  • Suggesting use, such as visible smoke or vapor, that is clearly linked to a person on screen.
What to do instead:
  • Keep drugs, tobacco, nicotine products, and smoking-related tools out of your videos and LIVEs.
  • Promote only products that are allowed on TikTok Shop, and focus on the product features viewers care about.

Content Targeting or Exploiting Minors

Minors require special protection online due to their age. Content must not exploit, manipulate, or expose minors to inappropriate material. Ensuring their safety is an essential part of our Community Guidelines.

What is Prohibited?

  • Minors promoting, describing, or demonstrating products, including:
    • Minor verbal promotion of product in content
    • Minor promoting the product using voice-over, even when the minor does not appear on camera
    • Minors are the only on-camera participants
  • Giveaways or promotions that target minors
  • Language, themes, or visuals designed to appeal specifically to minors
  • Any emotional manipulation or exploitation of a minor, including persuading minors to ask their parents to purchase products
  • Content that may have a negative effect on minor safety

What To Do Instead?

  • Follow all applicable local laws and regulations for content involving minors. This includes child actors and promotional content.
  • Create respectful content that does not pressure or mislead minors.

Nudity and Sexualized Behavior

Content featuring nudity or sexualized behavior is prohibited on TikTok Shop, regardless of intent or target audience.

What is Prohibited?

  1. Nudity or implied nudity
  • Full or partial nudity, including edited visuals, or outlines that imply nudity
  • Visible or implied genital outlines through clothing, including a visible erection or male bulge, or clothing that draws attention to the genital area
  1. Excessive exposure of intimate body areas
  • Pronounced or excessive display of cleavage, buttocks, or similar areas that creates a sexualized focus rather than highlighting the product
  • Light cleavage exposure, including inverted "V" shapes, or camera framing that emphasizes or draws attention to intimate body parts (for example, chest, buttocks, or genital area).
  • Over-focus on body shape when showcasing sheer or skin-tight items
  1. Sexual gestures, poses, or suggestive behavior
  • Objects, gestures, or body parts used to mimic or suggest genitalia or intimate areas of any gender
  • Displays, poses, or behaviors that simulate sexual arousal or explicit acts
  • Sexualized product demonstrations, including exaggerated body movements, poses, or camera angles intended to highlight intimate areas rather than the product
  1. Sexual themes or suggestive context
  • Sexual themes, innuendo, or explicit imagery, including animations or suggestive camera angles
  • Sexually suggestive language or role-play intended to create a sexualized context around the product
  • Captions, gestures, or expressions with sexual undertones
  1. Adult platform references
  • Logos, imagery, or branding associated with pornographic platforms
  1. Content that may make viewers uncomfortable
  • Content that may create discomfort for viewers, particularly when promoting revealing or sensitive products.

What To Do Instead?

Promote Products in a Neutral Way
  • Focus on product features like fabric, comfort, fit, stretch, and design
  • Highlight practical use cases (daily wear, layering, comfort)
  • Use a neutral, informative tone and do not use suggestive language
  • Choose professional camera angles that do not emphasize body parts
Examples:
  • For intimate hygiene products, use clear, educational language about function and benefits
    • For example, "gentle formulas" or "soothing ingredients"
  • For shapewear, focus on comfort, material quality, and everyday wear support
Create clear, safe, and appropriate demonstrations
  • Use mannequins, flat-lay shots, or torso props for revealing items
  • Pair skin-tone or tight items with additional clothing
  • Do not frame private areas
Examples:
  • Show lingerie or swimwear on mannequins instead of on-body try-ons
  • For stockings or similar items, focus on material and texture and pair with shorts or skirts

Promoting Sexual Wellness Products

If you are invited to sell sexual wellness products, see Guidelines for Responsible Health-Related Content. This article provides additional information on content to avoid and best practices.

Discriminatory, Violent, or Harassing Content

Content that harms, discriminates, or harasses individuals or groups is prohibited.

What is Prohibited?

  • Discriminatory language or imagery based on race, gender, identity, or other attributes
  • Harassment, bullying, or hateful messaging
  • Graphic or violent imagery including gore, mutilation, or physical abuse
  • Content showing death, serious injury, or disturbing medical situations
  • Depictions of animal cruelty or real-world violence, including:
    • animal testing or applying beauty and cosmetics products to animals
    • promoting, engaging in, representing or glorifying violent extremism organisation and their activities, ideologies, and recruitment

What To Do Instead?

  • Use creative storytelling and thoughtful visuals to engage your audience
  • Build a welcoming environment by encouraging positive interaction
  • Keep all content appropriate for a general audience
For more information, please refer to our TikTok Shop Content Policy.

Crude, Vulgar, and Disturbing Products

Content must not include products that have crude, vulgar, or disturbing material. This includes, but is not limited to, products that feature:
  • Explicit language
  • Obscene gestures
  • Graphic violence
  • Sexual content
  • Anything that may cause discomfort or distress
For more details and examples about crude, vulgar, or disturbing products, refer to our policy here.
For more information, please refer to our Prohibited Products Policy.

Enforcement Actions and Appeals

We regularly review creator accounts and content for compliance with our policies, including our Content Policy, and our Community Guidelines. If violations are identified, we may take enforcement actions. This may include, but is not limited to:
  • Deducting points from your Creator Health Rating
  • Removing content
  • Removing access to features
  • Restricting commission earnings
  • Restricting or removing your creator account
Creators can view their account health and any enforcement actions on the Creator Health Rating (CHR) page. For more information on violations, see Creator Enforcement Policy. If you would like to appeal an enforcement action, visit the Appeals section.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use action-packed scenes to promote my product?

Do not use violent or graphic scenes, even if they are intended to be exciting. This content can disturb customers and violate our policies.

Can I include images or references to gambling or pyramid schemes?

No. TikTok Shop prohibits gambling-related content. This includes, but is not limited to:
  • Betting
  • Pyramid schemes
  • Casino-style games
  • Sweepstakes

Can I show or talk about vapes, tobacco, or cannabis products in my content, even if it is not a product I am selling?

This is not allowed in videos or LIVEs. Drugs and drug paraphernalia carry the highest severity, and that the rules apply even when you are not selling the product.

What if I receive enforcement actions?

If you have received an enforcement action, review the TikTok Shop Content Policy. If you believe the enforcement was made in error, file an appeal through the TikTok Shop for Creators page > Account Standing > Violations. Then, select the violation and scroll to bottom of page to appeal.

How do I report content that violates this policy?

If you find content that violates the information on this page, you can report it by following these steps:
  1. Tap Share.
  2. Select Report.
  3. Choose the appropriate reason and sub-topic (if available).
  4. Add any helpful details.
  5. Tap Submit.

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