TikTok is the prime platform for most creators and businesses in 2025, with over 2.2 billion active users, but growing your account the wrong way can have bad consequences. Fake engagement – buying followers, likes, etc – might seem as the quickest way to reach the For You Page (FYP), but it doesn’t come without risks. In some cases it even results in the opposite effect, being reduced reach, damaged credibility or even shadowbans. In this chapter we´ll explore why fake engagement could hurt your TikTok growth and how to avoid it, ensuring that you build an authentic audience that lasts. Here at Tikfuel we’re committed to the right, policy-complaint strategies that align with TikTok´s community guidelines and advertising platforms.
What is fake engagement?
Fake engagement is when you artificially inflate your TikTok account by acquiring followers, likes, comments etc. Often times this purchased engagement will come from low quality bot accounts, having no profile pictures, generic names etc.
Little statistic: An estimated 60% of purchased followers are inactive profiles or bots, not contributing to real engagement.
Why does fake engagement hurt your TikTok growth?
TikTok’s algorithm prioritizes interaction like likes, comments but mostly also watch time. These are the key metrics that will push your content to the FYP. Fake accounts often don´t interact, causing several issues:
- Shadowbans and reduced reach:
Tiktok will detect sudden follower spikes or mismatched engagement rates e.g., 10 K followers but only 1 likes per video. When TikTok detects such cases it might decide to shadowban your account, cutting your reach by 30-50%.
- Low engagement rates:
Like we mentioned before, fake followers don´t interact, resulting in a lower engagement rate. Lower engagement rates will be interpreted by the platform as poor content quality, reducing FYP exposure.
- Damaging your credibility:
Often brands and collaborators will use tools like HypeAuditor to check for audience quality. Having a high percentage of fake followers can result in a low score and ultimately scare of partnerships.
- Risk of suspension:
TikTok´s community guidelines don´t permit artificial engagement. Repeated violations of the community guidelines can result in a temporary ban.
Little statistic: more then 10.000 accounts were suspended in 2024 for repeated violations of TikTok´s community guidelines, as per TikTok´s transparency reports.
How to Take Action the Right Way: Grow Authentically
Fake engagement often promises quick wins, but it might risk your TikTok success. To build a real audience with strategies that work :
- Post 3-5 videos per week with 3-7 hastags
- Keep track of your engagement rates in TikTok Analytics
- Consult our premium services to learn more about authentic and compliant TikTok growth.