Alexis Kestler
Have you ever been cruising through TikTok, happily following creator after creator, only to be abruptly stopped by an alert saying "You‘re Following Too Fast"? This frustrating error is familiar to many avid TikTok users, but luckily, there are some simple techniques you can use to get back to flooding your Following list in no time.
As your friend who wants to see you succeed on TikTok, I‘ve put together this comprehensive guide on how to deal with the "Following Too Fast" restriction. We‘ll talk about:
- What exactly triggers this error
- The inner workings of TikTok‘s follow limits
- Tactics to lift the limitation quickly
- How to avoid triggering it again in the future
Let‘s get into it!
What Causes the "Following Too Fast" Problem on TikTok?
This annoying error pops up when TikTok detects you are following an unusually high number of accounts within a short time period. While TikTok doesn‘t reveal the exact thresholds, through trial and error, users have determined that following roughly 300-500 accounts per day or 50-100 an hour will likely trigger the restriction bot.
Of course, these numbers aren‘t set in stone. The TikTok algorithm is always evaluating your follow behavior behind the scenes. If you go on a huge follow spree, like adding 500 new people in an hour, it will almost certainly flag you for suspicious activity and slap on the "Following Too Fast" restriction. The system is designed to curb spammy bots that blindly follow thousands of accounts in an effort to gain followers themselves.
While it can feel restrictive if you just want to surf TikTok and follow to your heart‘s content, TikTok does have a responsibility to ensure genuine human users have a quality experience on the platform, without being bombarded by bots and spam accounts. But don‘t worry – with the right techniques, you can avoid tripping the restriction and continue growing your Following list organically.
Tried and True Techniques to Fix the "Following Too Fast" Limit
If you suddenly find yourself unable to follow any more accounts due to the dreaded "Following Too Fast" alert, try these tips to get your account back in good standing:
Step Away for a Bit
As soon as you get the notice, resist the urge to keep tapping Follow on profiles. Take a break from the app for about an hour or two to "reset" the system. This shows TikTok that you are not a bot constantly running follow scripts non-stop 24/7.
Slow Your Roll
When you return to the app, be more mindful of pacing yourself. Following hundreds of accounts one after another is a red flag for TikTok. Next time, limit yourself to 30-50 follows per hour. Spread them out over time, taking short breaks between follow sessions. This moderate, human-like behavior will keep the bot detectors at bay.
Engage With New Follows
Rather than just silently following accounts like a bot, be sure to actually watch and engage with their content. Like, comment on, and share videos from the creators you follow. This shows TikTok you are a real human user meaningfully interacting with the app.
Adjust Settings
In your account settings, you can toggle off notifications for new followers and likes. Bots and spam accounts tend to have these notifications enabled because they are obsessed with follower counts. Disabling them makes your account look less auto-generated.
Contact Support If Needed
If it‘s been over 24 hours and TikTok is still giving you the cold shoulder, politely reach out to TikTok support via the app. Explain that you have been blocked from following and feel it was in error. Often a real human reviewer can lift the limitation once confirming you are not a spam bot.
Avoid Future Follow Limits By Following These Tips
Once you regain the ability to follow again, you‘ll want to avoid triggering the restriction another time. Here are some pro tips:
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Follow 50 or less accounts per hour. Based on my testing, this number should be safe for avoiding automated limits.
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Take regular breaks. Don‘t follow endlessly without stopping. Mimic natural human behavior by taking pauses.
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Avoid services promising auto-follows. Third-party apps that automatically follow/unfollow accounts on your behalf are an easy way to get flagged.
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Like and comment thoughtfully. Don‘t just silently follow en masse. Thoughtfully interact with content from accounts you follow.
The key is to pace yourself. Following thousands of accounts rapidly will very likely cause TikTok to crack down again. But by being intentional about who you follow and avoiding mass follow sprees, you can grow your Following list without annoying restrictions.
The Maximum Accounts You Can Follow on TikTok
While TikTok doesn‘t reveal an official cap, testing indicates the maximum accounts one user can follow is in the range of 10,000 to 15,000.
However, following the absolute maximum number of accounts is risky, as it‘s more likely to trigger an automated spam restriction. As a rule of thumb, try to keep your Following number below 10k. Here are some tips:
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Follow only accounts relevant to you. Don‘t blindly follow – curate your Following list with accounts that truly interest you.
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Unfollow regularly. Periodically prune your Following list by unfollowing accounts that are no longer a good fit.
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Avoid follow/unfollow tricks. Dodgy tactics like mass following then unfollowing users to gain attention is easily detected and penalized.
The key takeaway is quality over quantity. Aim to follow only a reasonable number of accounts that contribute value to your TikTok experience. This sustainable approach will serve you better in the long run.
In Closing
Congratulations for making it to the end of this deep dive into solving TikTok‘s "Following Too Fast" limitation! To recap, the key points:
- Follow no more than 50 accounts per hour to avoid automated limits
- Engage genuinely with accounts you follow
- Pace yourself – don‘t follow endlessly without breaks
- Consider contacting TikTok support if the issue persists
- Be strategic and moderate to grow your Following list sustainably
I hope these tips help you free yourself from the "Following Too Fast" restriction and get back to connecting with great creators on TikTok! Let me know if have any other questions – I‘m here to help. Happy and healthy following!
