Never Ever Do These Things If You Want to Go Viral on TikTok or Instagram
Sun Feb 23 2025
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3min
When companies built the algorithms of modern social media apps, they implemented warning systems to automatically flag users who break their app's policies. Many of these policies are based on legislation from different countries where users consume their products. Essentially, they exist to protect the company’s interests and prevent lawsuits.
Previously, enforcing these policies cost companies a lot of money because employees had to manually verify, handle reports, filter, and monitor content. Today, any modern software organization automates this process as much as possible.
Things You Should Never Do if You Want to Go Viral
Avoid these mistakes to stay in good standing with the platform’s algorithm:
- Spamming excessively
- Using multiple accounts to interact with each other (One alt is usually fine, but 10 is a policy violation.)
- Using sensitive words that might be flagged by the system
- Engaging in activities that may lead to user reports. Try to avoid comments and posts that may offend others. There is a balance between controversial and offensive.
- Reposting other people’s videos as your own. Never steal content. There are sophisticated algorithms to catch this.
- Copying audio or video that is not yours – just don’t do it.
- Posting the same video simultaneously on multiple accounts on the same platform. A video can be posted on Instagram and TikTok, but not multiple times on the same platform unless you wait a few months or up to a year.
- Ignoring warnings – if the system flags your content and tells you that you do something wrong, take that advice and don’t keep trying the same thing. Even if the warning feels unfair. Move on and revisit the format later.
- Trying to cheat the system – “hacks” you hear about online to get more views are known by the system and may get you penalized instead.
- Posting ultra-short videos – Use at least 5 seconds. If you think a 0.5-second clip with a long text will go viral because it is looped over and over, that hack is well known and will get you nowhere...
- Engaging in “follow for follow” schemes – Don’t promise to follow back, use those hashtags, or search for them.
If you violate these guidelines, the system will likely flag you, leading to lower reach, shadowbans, or even a full ban. These algorithms continuously evolve to detect and prevent manipulative behaviors.
Bottom line: If something feels shady, don’t do it. Engineers work hard to catch these behaviors, and the system will only get better at stopping them over time. Play fair, create original content, and focus on organic engagement for long-term success.