Advertising on TikTok - First Things to Note

Last updated: September 2024

Before getting started: TikTok Advertising Policies - Ad Creatives apply to all of TikTok's paid advertising products.

1. Overview

As an advertiser on TikTok, you are responsible for your ads. This means complying with all applicable laws, rules and regulations that apply to the targeted regions (including any advertising codes, such as the CAP Non-broadcast Code in the UK), creating and promoting honest, safe, and respectful ads. Additionally, you must comply with our Terms of Service, Community Guidelines, and all of TikTok's policies found in our Business Help Center governing the use of our services. We strive to keep up with changing times and regulations and are committed to providing a better user experience when viewing TikTok Ads.


2. General information

2.1 Understanding our policies 

TikTok Advertising Policies are largely categorized into two sections.


TikTok Advertising Policies - Industry Entry 

This section provides information about the types of products and services that can be advertised through TikTok Ads. Please take a moment to review if the products or services that you intend to promote are acceptable in the desired target region. From time to time, TikTok may invite advertisers to participate in alpha and beta tests in select industries that are otherwise still considered Prohibited or Restricted. Participants are subject to confidentiality (per 8.4 of the Commercial Terms of Service) and may be subject to additional requirements, in addition to those discussed above (see Section 1 - Overview). We may choose to revoke participation or discontinue the alpha or beta tests at any time, and will strive to keep you informed if testing results in any material changes to our Advertising Policies.


TikTok Advertising Policies - Ad Creatives sets out the types of advertising content that is prohibited or restricted on our platform. Please take a look at this article for matters relating to Intellectual Property Infringement Rules for Ads.


These policies serve as a guideline to review the eligibility of an advertisement placed with us by advertisers. 


2.2 Ad review process

As part of the TikTok ads review process, we take the following into consideration:

  • Eligibility of the promoted product or services

    • Ad creative which includes:

    • Caption or text

    • Images or visual content

    • Audio content

    • Any other content that forms part of the ad creative that would be published to target audience

  • Targeted region and age group

  • Consistency between an ad creative and the landing page

  • Functionality and eligibility of landing page


In order for your ads to run smoothly and successfully on our platform, it is important for your business and ad creative to be compliant with all of our policies. 


While some TikTok ads might take longer than usual for the review process to complete, most are reviewed within 24 hours. Once your ad has been approved and published, you will receive a notification. If the ad is rejected and there are changes that can be made to help publish your ad, you will be notified through Ad Group on the TikTok Ads Manager platform.


2.3 Actions to take if rejected

Edit and submit

If your TikTok Ads have been rejected due to non-compliance with our policies, review the details of the disapproval, edit the ad, and submit them for re-review.


To edit your ad:

  1. Start at your TikTok Ads Manager dashboard.

  2. Select Notifications to review the details of rejection. It will be shown in your Ad Group as suggestions.

  3. Recreate or amend your ad based on the information in the received notification. Read our How to Edit Ad Settings | TikTok Ads Manager article for more details.

  4. Save your changes. Once saved, your ad will be submitted for re-review.


File an appeal or get help

If you cannot edit your ads or feel it was mistakenly rejected, request a review of the decision via Advertiser Support. Visit our View Campaign or Ad Status | TikTok Ads Manager page for more details.

  1. Start at your TikTok Ads Manager dashboard.

    • From the bottom-right corner select the ? icon.; or

    • From the top-right corner, select Customer Support, or from the bottom-right, select the Help icon.

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