Why Are My TikTok Views Down? Honest Reasons + What Actually Helped Me

TikTok is the bane of my life at the moment. Having always been inconsistent with social media, I am trying my hardest to make it work for me. Why? Well, another income stream. I earn 90% of my income from this blog, and I’d love to earn elsewhere to feel a bit more secure. But I’ve noticed a drop in my TikTok views and I seem to be stuck in the dreaded 200-view jail. Low views on TikTok are such a pain, and I keep wondering why I am losing views on TikTok. How can I overcome this new TikTok views problem?

I’ve been researching this a lot, and it appears it’s a common issue many users face, thanks to the platform’s evolving dynamics. So I wanted to write a bit about why your TikTok views are suddenly low and how you can boost your views again when your TikTok views are down.

Why are my TikToks getting low views?

This is very much a work in progress for me, so I hope at some point in the future, I’ll be able to come back and share with you a success story! 

The same thing kept happening to me on Instagram Reels too — I wrote about that separately if that’s where you’re struggling

To track my progress yourself, follow me on TikTok here!

Updated June 2026: A lot has changed since I first wrote this in 2024 — including TikTok nearly getting banned in the US, which caused its own chaos for creators everywhere. The platform is still here and still worth being on, but the algorithm has shifted again. I’ve updated the key sections below to reflect what’s happening now. My own stats have moved a lot too — scroll down for the updates, including one video that got 240k views. (Still can’t quite believe that.)

Possible Reasons for Decreasing TikTok Views

Why Are My TikTok Views Going Down?

Here’s the thing about TikTok views dropping — there’s rarely one clean explanation. It’s usually a few things landing at once. I’ve gone through phases where I couldn’t work out why perfectly decent content was getting nothing, and phases where something completely random blew up.

After posting daily for over a year and tracking what happens, here’s what I’ve actually found makes a difference.

Common Reasons Your TikTok Views Dropped

New updated algorithm

TikTok constantly updates its algorithm to prioritise relevant, engaging content. Sometimes, a shift in the algorithm can temporarily reduce your content’s visibility. These updates can drastically change what is considered trending or viral content on the platform. Because of these changes, creators may see a drop in their video views even if they are still making high-quality content similar to what used to perform well for them. It’s frustrating when your TikToks suddenly start getting less views when the same type of content usually does well!

The best way to stay ahead with these new algorithms is by constantly monitoring trends and adapting your content accordingly. Creators should make use of TikTok analytics to understand how their videos perform under the updated algorithm and adjust their strategies to align with what’s currently favoured.

Not following trends

Ignoring trends is a common reason why your TikTok views might be dropping. Trends on this platform change rapidly, and staying up to date with them can significantly boost your video’s chances of being seen by a wider audience and help your low view problem.

Using trending music, dances, and hashtags attracts more viewers who are actively searching for that type of content. If you stick only to what you know or prefer without adapting to new trends, you might find your videos getting fewer views. This is one that I fail on as there is no way I’m going to dance in front of the camera!

Engaging with the latest trends also shows that you’re an active part of the TikTok community. This not only increases your visibility but also helps in building connections with other users who share similar interests.

Creating content around popular sounds or challenges encourages user interaction, such as likes and shares, which further amplifies your reach across the platform. Keeping an eye on what’s currently popular and incorporating these elements into your videos can turn around decreasing view counts into positive results.

Shadow ban

A shadow ban on TikTok might make your videos invisible to everyone except you. This happens if you violate the community guidelines. Your content doesn’t show up on anyone’s feed, drastically dropping your views and engagement.

It feels like shouting into a void because no new users can discover your posts, even if they use relevant hashtags or search for related content.

TikTok uses this method as a way to keep the platform safe and enjoyable for all users. If your account gets shadow-banned, it means TikTok flagged your videos for sensitive or inappropriate content without notifying you directly.

Recovering from a shadow ban requires reviewing and adjusting your content to align better with TikTok’s community guidelines before posting anything new.

If you get zero views on your video, then this is likely the case. This may not happen to all your videos. If you go to the posts analytics, then you will see at the top it says ‘post not suitable for FYP page’ or something like that. This is usually due to low-quality posts, using the same videos that you have used before or that the content violates TikTok’s T’s and C’s. You can appeal this.

The best thing to do in this case is to just carry on creating quality content on a consistent schedule. I have discovered that if you suddenly start posting a lot more, you will get shadowbanned. This happened to me when I started posting 3 times a day.

Decline in Engagement

Videos that receive fewer likes, comments, or shares are less likely to be promoted by the algorithm. Engagement is key to maintaining visibility on TikTok.

It’s just a very crowded platform

There are over a billion users on TikTok. Even good content gets buried sometimes. That’s not a reason to give up — it’s a reason to make sure every single thing you post has a reason for someone to keep watching past the first two seconds. The 200-view pool is your audition. If the people in that first pool don’t watch it through, it stops there.

Copied or poor content quality

Copying content or creating poor-quality videos can significantly drop your TikTok views. Viewers are always on the lookout for original and high-quality content. If they spot that your videos are not unique, they might switch to supporting creators who offer something fresh and engaging.

Producing low-standard video content also creates a bad impression, which can lead to losing followers and fewer views over time.

To avoid this pitfall, focus on crafting original TikTok videos that capture your audience’s attention. Steer clear of posting sensitive or controversial topics as these can tarnish your reputation and drive viewers away.

Remember, in the competitive world of TikTok, maintaining a good image and offering innovative content is crucial for keeping those views climbing.

Check your account status

If your views have dropped suddenly and nothing else explains it, check your account status in your TikTok settings. If a video was flagged, it’ll show there. You can appeal it. I’ve had posts quietly limited before without realising — it was only when I checked the post analytics that I saw ‘not eligible for FYP’ at the top.

Video stuck in review

Videos can get stuck in review for several reasons, affecting your view count significantly. The TikTok algorithm works tirelessly to ensure only safe and appropriate content reaches viewers.

If you post multiple videos at once, include sensitive content, or upload at times the app deems unsuitable, you might find your creations lingering in limbo. This delay prevents your video from being seen by potential followers and can cause a noticeable dip in views.

To mitigate this issue, familiarise yourself with TikTok’s community guidelines and choose optimal posting times based on user activity. Understanding these factors helps avoid prolonged review times and ensures your content remains visible to a wide audience.

Moving forward into the realm of short or unengaging content provides more insights into maintaining viewer interest.

Short or unengaging content

Creating short or unengaging content can lead to a decline in TikTok views. Short videos may not capture the audience’s attention, resulting in fewer views. It’s crucial to ensure that content is engaging and holds the viewer’s interest throughout, as this can significantly impact view counts on TikTok.

In addition, neglecting trends and failing to produce relevant, entertaining content can also contribute to decreased engagement and viewership. Keeping up with trending topics and creating captivating content are essential for maintaining an active audience on the platform and stopping your TikToks from flopping!

Audience Saturation

Sometimes your existing audience may have already seen similar content, or trends may have shifted. It’s important to innovate and experiment with new ideas.

Poor impression on the profile

Creating a poor impression on your TikTok profile can significantly impact your viewership. Users are less likely to engage with content from accounts that have low-quality content, inconsistent posting schedules, or unengaging profiles.

An incomplete or poorly curated profile may cause potential followers to lose interest and move on to more appealing creators. Maintaining a polished and engaging profile is essential for attracting and retaining viewers.

Moving forward, let’s explore the Solutions to increase TikTok Views that you can implement to improve your engagement rates.

Inconsistent Posting Schedule

Skipping posting days or posting irregularly can cause the algorithm to deprioritise your content. Consistency signals to TikTok that you’re an active, reliable creator. If I ever post more or less than normal, my views suffer.

New user on TikTok

As a new user on TikTok, it’s common to experience a decrease in views due to the intense competition for attention amongst 1 billion users and millions of videos being uploaded daily.

Algorithm updates can also impact trending and viral content, potentially affecting your visibility. Moreover, violating community guidelines may lead to a shadow ban that halts views.

It’s crucial for new users to create original, high-quality content to attract viewers and engage with the TikTok community effectively.

Lacking in creativity

Creating content lacking in creativity can significantly impact your TikTok views. Viewers are drawn to fresh, unique, and engaging content. When creators fail to inject creativity into their videos, audience interest can dwindle.

To prevent a decrease in views due to a lack of creativity, prioritise originality and find innovative ways to stand out among the crowded platform.

Failing to infuse creativity might result in viewers scrolling past your content for more captivating alternatives. Therefore, it’s crucial to brainstorm ideas that resonate with your audience while showcasing your individual style and flair through each video shared on the platform.

Not having a niche

We hear this time and time again. And I hate it. Because I don’t like having a niche. But here’s why it’s important – the TikTok algorithm will test your content among people who it thinks will like it. And if it does well, you get more views. But if you keep posting about different things, it might not be showing your content to the right people. 

Solutions to Increase TikTok Views

To increase TikTok views, creating trending and engaging content is key. Engaging with fellow users, using relevant hashtags, and collaborating on duet videos can help boost your content’s visibility.

Update Your Content Strategy

Experiment with new formats, trending sounds, and challenges to keep your content fresh.

Choosing trending and relevant content

Ensuring your content aligns with current TikTok trends and staying relevant to your audience’s interests is crucial for increasing views. By leveraging popular hashtags, viral challenges, or trending topics, you can tap into what’s capturing the attention of TikTok users.

Engaging with the For You page can help you discover emerging trends to incorporate into your videos. Creating shareable content that resonates with your target audience increases the likelihood of gaining traction and organic views on TikTok.

Engage with your own content niche

This one I do think matters. When views dropped for me, I’d got lazy about engaging — I was posting but not spending any time on the app as a viewer. The algorithm seems to take note of whether you’re interacting with content similar to yours. Liking and commenting on posts in your niche teaches TikTok what your account is about. It also means you start seeing what’s working for other creators, which is genuinely useful.

I’m not suggesting you spend three hours a day on the app. But 10 or 15 minutes of actual engagement after you post makes a difference.

Using hashtags and the For You page

After engaging with followers, another effective way to increase TikTok views is by utilising hashtags and the For You page. Hashtags can make your content discoverable to a wider audience as they categorise your videos based on the topics you choose.

Using relevant and trending hashtags can help attract more viewers to your videos. Incorporating the For You page into your strategy is crucial, as this is where TikTok showcases content tailored towards each user’s interests.

By creating engaging and high-quality content that aligns with trends and using popular hashtags, you can enhance the visibility of your videos on TikTok.

Optimise Posting Times

Analyse when your audience is most active and schedule posts accordingly to maximise initial engagement.

What is the 200-view jail?

So what is this 200-view jail? You may come across it at once. 200-view jail does not mean you are shadow-banned. Here’s how the TikTok algorithm works. It sends your video out to a pool of around 200-300 people. If those people watch it all, like and engage, then it will continue to show it to more and more people. As soon as engagement dies down, TikTok stops showing your video on the FYP page.

So you need to create content that keeps people watching. It needs to have a good hook, be interesting or teach them something. Also, by sticking to the same niche and using hashtags, you can teach TikTok what your content is about so it puts your content in front of those who are most likely to enjoy it. 

Other Ways to Get More TikTok Views

Try a different format

If views are consistently low across everything you post, sometimes the answer isn’t to post more of the same — it’s to try something different. When I was stuck at 200 views, posting a simple photo slideshow for a week felt pointless. But changing the hook format, or switching from text overlay videos to speaking to camera, can reset how the algorithm reads your content. It doesn’t have to be a big overhaul. Just try one different thing for a week and see what happens.

Consistency in posting

Consistency in posting plays a crucial role in increasing TikTok views. By regularly sharing content, you can keep your audience engaged and attract new viewers. 

Keeping up with regular posts allows you to experiment with different types of content and refine your strategies based on real-time feedback from your audience.

Quality content

Creating high-quality content is crucial for increasing TikTok views. This involves producing engaging, original videos with good lighting, proper framing, and interesting content that captures the audience’s attention.

Experimenting with a shorter video length and adding relevant captions can improve the average watch time and user engagement, helping to boost visibility on the platform.

It’s also important to note that TikTok’s algorithm prioritises quality over quantity; therefore, focusing on creating top-notch content is essential for gaining traction and reaching a wider audience.

What am I doing differently?

I am desperate to improve my views and engagement on TikTok, so here are some of the things I’ll be doing differently:

• Trying to stick to home and food niches
• Posting daily
• Experimenting with different edits
• Engaging with my followers, especially those who comment on my posts
• Engaging with posts I like on my FYP page

Here’s what my account and stats look like now:

Update – July 2024

So I’ve been posting to TikTok daily and am now out of 200-view jail! What seemed to work for me was posting consistency, and if any post did any better than the rest, I stuck to that style.

Categorising posts with similar hashtags also worked. So mixing up niches such as food hashtags, home decor hashtags and vlog hashtags all in one post seemed to tank it. Now I keep the hashtags within the same niche. It doesn’t seem to matter how many hashtags I do, and how popular those hashtags are. I just do a mixture of popularity.

I think my content and editing have got better over time just by editing and posting daily, and seeing what works. So that could be a factor.

Photo-only posts used to do well for me, getting about 350 views, which felt better than my 200 views. Now they still do about 350 views, but the rest of my posts get around 900 views.

Here are my stats:

Update – September 2024

Things have still been going up. I’ve been posting daily, I’ve been trying to stick to the themes that do well and use hashtags that are the same theme so TikTok knows what the niche is. I finally went viral! I posted a video of a lettuce growing and initially, it got 5k views, which is great for me. Then three weeks later, it blew up and got 240k views and over 10k likes!

That might not seem viral for everyone, but as I’m used to around 1k views, this is a massive increase! I’m really happy with my process and it just goes to show that you just need to start making content and see what works for you.

How to fix low views on TikTok!

Drops in TikTok views are normal and often temporary. By understanding the algorithm, maintaining engagement, improving content quality, and experimenting with trends, you can recover and even grow your audience over time. Regular monitoring and adjustments are key to long-term success on TikTok.

So if you’re trying to increase your TikTok views, include selecting trending content, collaborating with other users, engaging with followers, and using hashtags effectively. Hope this post helps you to understand the TikTok algorithm a bit more, and we can all grow our accounts together, and now you never have to ask yourself ‘why are my Tiktok views so low?’.

Don’t forget to follow me on TikTok here.

FAQs

1. Why am I getting zero views on my new TikTok video?

Your new video might be getting zero views if it doesn’t catch the interest of TikTok’s algorithm, possibly due to wrong hashtags or posting at the wrong time when fewer people are active.

2. Can using an unsafe VPN affect my TikTok views?

Yes, using an unsafe VPN can lead to a sudden drop in views because it may violate TikTok community guidelines, affecting how your content is shown to others.

3. How do dance challenges and hashtag challenges increase TikTok views?

Participating in popular dance and hashtag challenges can boost your visibility on the discover page, attracting more viewers and potentially increasing your number of followers.

4. Why did my once-popular video suddenly get fewer views?

A possible explanation for a popular video experiencing a decrease in views could be changes in TikTok’s algorithms or the content no longer aligning with what most users want to see.

5. What should I do if my completion rate is low on Tiktok?

Improving your completion rate involves creating high-quality, engaging content that encourages viewers to watch your videos till the end, which helps signal to TikTok that your content is worth showing to more people.

6. How can new creators overcome common reasons for decreased views on their videos?

New creators should focus on understanding and adapting to Tiktok’s review process, create good quality content relevant to current trends, use appropriate hashtags, and engage actively with their audience through comments.

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