Last fall, TikTok cut the number of advertising violations that could trigger an immediate ban from 37 to 13, according to a Forbes report based on internal documents and sources. The change meant offenses such as “non-delivery” scams, in which customers pay for products that never arrive, no longer warranted a swift suspension.
Better Business Bureau complaint data showed TikTok-related scam reports rose 142% in the six months after the policy change. Internal sources suggested TikTok loosened the rules to increase revenue, viewing stricter policies as penalizing too many advertisers.