Avoid Misleading Content

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Key Points:
  • Ensure your content provides the same information about the product as the product detail page.
  • Avoid comparisons, exaggerated statements and filters when promoting a product.
  • Keep claims accurate and based on the product or your personal experience.
  • Use an approved disclaimer only in two situations: showing before-and-after results or mentioning how long results may take. Do not use disclaimers in any other context.
TikTok Shop wants to make sure all content is clear, trustworthy, and safe for our community. To achieve this, we don’t allow content that misleads users about how a product works or exaggerates results.

When does content become misleading?

Content is considered misleading when it includes claims:
  • That are inconsistent with the product detail page.
  • That creates a false or inaccurate impression of the product.
It’s important that your content accurately represents the product. See the section below for best practices you can follow when posting.

Best Practices

Here are some best practice sections with examples. This is a non-exhaustive list designed to illustrate how you can apply best practices to your content. Use these as guidance to keep your content accurate and avoid misleading claims.

Stay Accurate with Product Attributes

All product attributes in your video description, product name, and the video itself must match what's on the product detail page. Product attributes include:
  • Specifications, such as features, functionality, dimensions, functionality, and branding
  • Return and refund services
  • Origin information
  • Guarantees and warranties
  • Awards, certifications, endorsements, or affiliations
  • Quantity and price
Additional requirements when promoting branded products:
  • Your content and hashtags must feature the same type of product from the same brand as the product detail page.
    • Example: Your video features a black shoe in size 9 from Brand A. The product detail page features the same shoe from Brand A in white, pink, and blue, and sizes 10 and 11. This is allowed. The brand and product type (shoe) match. Variations in size and color are fine.
  • You may feature another brand’s product if the purpose is comparison.
    • Example: Your video compares eyeliners from Brands A and B. The product detail page only features Brand B eyeliner. This is allowed.
  • You may feature another brand’s product if it is incidental to your demonstration of the main product.
    • Example: Your video shows shirts from various brands being packed into the main product, a packing cube. This is allowed.
    • Example: Your video shows a branded bag paired with the main product, a jacket, to demonstrate its appearance. This is allowed.

Stay Transparent with Pricing

Be clear and specific when mentioning prices and promotions in your content. If they only apply to specific customers, purchase amounts or values (e.g. minimum order of 3 items or $55), time periods, products, or geographical areas (e.g. residents of Tennessee), make sure this is explicitly mentioned.
Follow these steps to avoid misleading your viewers:
  • Double-check the current price of the product before recording your content.
  • Use disclaimers for promotional prices with conditions (e.g., “Only during Memorial Day” or “Only for new customers”). Always specify who, what, when, and where.
  • You can round up prices ($19.99 to $20) but never down ($19.99 to $19).

Quote from Authority

Avoid exaggerated or inflated claims. While this is a great way to get your viewers' attention, it can mislead viewers. Only use these if you're quoting what's already on the product packaging.
These are examples of claims that are allowed:
  • Content says a drink is 100% American made, and the carton confirms it.
  • Content says dress is 100% carbon neutral, and creator shows the clothing label has a carbon neutral mark.

Use of Disclaimers

Disclaimers are essential when promoting certain products in before-and-after comparisons or when claiming a time-based outcome. Alert your viewers that a product might not produce the same results for them as it does for you.
If your content shows before-and-after comparisons of how the product helped with skin tightening, hair growth, or tooth protection, it must be accompanied with a disclaimer (let viewers know that results may vary). This helps set realistic expectations and makes it clear that the product may not work the same for everyone.

Acceptable disclaimers are limited to:

Note:
  • Personal experience disclaimers:
    • “This is Day 1 of my acne before using this supplement. This is Day 10 of my acne after using this supplement.”
    • “I used this, and this is my result now…”
    • I prefer this X brand to Y brand. X brand's line fits better with my personal style, so I always get my clothes from them."
    • “In my experience…”
  • Results may vary disclaimers:
    • “Individual results may vary”
    • “Results may vary depending on your skin sensitivity”
    • “Not a guarantee of individual results”
⚠️ Be careful not to include any weight and medical claims in your content. Adding disclaimers does not make them acceptable.👉 Special rules apply to weight management claims. Read our Guidelines for Responsible Health-Related Content article for more details.

Content Practices to Avoid

Here are some examples of practices that should be avoided. This is a non-exhaustive list meant to illustrate the types of content that can mislead audiences or violate policy. Use these as guidance to understand what not to include in your content.

Inaccurate Statements About Product Attributes

  • Content shows dress is available in 4 colors but product detail page only shows 3.
  • Content says coffee beans are from Ethiopia, but product detail page only says ethically sourced from Africa.
  • Content shows shoe from X brand, but product detail page shows shoe from Y brand.
  • Content shows shoe model A from X brand, but product detail page shows shoe model B from X brand.

Vague or Confusing Pricing

Avoid unclear, exaggerated, or misleading pricing references. Content should always match the official product detail page and explain any eligibility terms.
  • "This eyeliner is now going for as much as a hamburger."
  • "We're having our largest sale!"
  • "Don't miss these big discounts."
  • "While stocks last."
  • "This sale is only for selected customers only."
  • "This is the cheapest you'll ever see for this product."
  • "This is the best/lowest price out there for this product!"
  • Content says a dress is priced at $X but the product detail page shows a different price.

Wellness Claims

Avoid making claims that the product can prevent or cure general physical, mental, or emotional well-being, even if you have scientific reference.
Examples of not allowed claims:
  • “This supplement boosts your immune system and will prevent arthritis.”
  • “Use this tea to cure anxiety and depression naturally.”
  • “ I used this cream and it cured my eczema.”

Before & After Comparisons

Creators often use before-and-after comparison content (e.g. Skin tigthening or Hair growth) to show product results. But this can mislead audiences if not done carefully.
Use Acceptable Disclaimers:
Disclaimers are permitted ONLY in the following scenarios:
Violating Examples:
Non-Violating Examples:
  • When showing before-and-after comparisons (e.g., skincare, body transformation, etc.)
  • When referencing time-based results (e.g., “results in X days”)
  • Showing before/after overlays of skin tightening results without a disclaimer.
  • Promoting hair growth products with side-by-side comparisons and no disclaimer.
  • Showing a before-and-after comparison of facial hair growth, while including a disclaimer such as “Results may vary” to clarify that outcomes can differ for others.

Against Scientific Theory

TikTok Shop prohibits content that promotes product effects which are physiologically impossible or that contradict well-established scientific principles. This includes claims that products suggest harmful effects on others through supernatural influence or control.
What’s Not Allowed
Examples of not allowed claims:
  • “This love charm will make your crush think about you non-stop.”
  • “Wear this bracelet to make other people trust you instantly.”
  • “Make someone fall in love with you.”
  • “Spray this mist and people will obey your commands.”
No exemptions are accepted — if the claim is impossible or scientifically unproven, it will be rejected.

Exaggerated Claims

Avoid claiming or visually implying that the product causes extreme physical or sexual transformations. This includes any claims such as:
  1. Exaggerated Body Transformations:
Do not claim or visually imply that a product causes extreme physical or sexual changes. This includes:
  • Breast enlargement
  • Genital enlargement
  • Increased wetness
  • Sexual performance enhancement
  • Any other exaggerated physical transformation
Do not promise physical transformations within a set time (e.g., “See results in 3 days!”) without a disclaimer.
  1. Time-Based Claims
  • Disclaimers must clearly state that results may vary (e.g., “Results may differ from person to person”).
  • Avoid exaggerated or unrealistic time-based promises altogether.
  1. Unrealistic Product Functions
Claims that a product performs beyond its physical or mechanical capabilities are not allowed, even if they are unrelated to the human body. Exaggerated claims about what a product can do are prohibited.
Examples include:
  • Flashlights that can start a fire
  • Toothpaste that whitens or bleaches instantly
  • Power banks that provide “instant charge” beyond realistic capacity

Digital Generated Effects

Content must not use filters, edits, or visual effects that falsely imply or exaggerate a product’s results or effects. This applies to any part of the human body where such edits or filters make results appear better than they truly are.
❌ Violating Examples
  • Using filters: for example, skin-smoothing, wrinkle-removing, teeth-whitening, or filters that suggest acne removal.
  • Editing body shape: for example, video edits that artificially reshape a person’s figure.
👉 All of these are rejected because the product’s effect is exaggerated through filters or editing.✅ Non-Violating Examples
  • Showing the product’s effect naturally and in real time, without edits, filters, or enhancements.
  • Demonstrating how the product is applied and works in real life.
🚫 No Exemptions Accepted
Artificial Intelligence Generated Content (AIGC)
To keep the platform safe and trustworthy for everyone, content made with artificial intelligence (AI) is not allowed if it:
  • There are no disclaimers or product categories that make this acceptable.
  • Misleads people
  • Tries to deceive others
  • Attempts to impersonate someone else
  • Violates the TikTok Shop Content Policy or TikTok Community Guidelines.
Such content may be removed or face enforcement actions.
To support transparency and authenticity, creators are encouraged to label content that is fully or mostly created or changed using AI. This includes:
  • AI-generated images, videos, or audio
  • Content that shows realistic human features or is in styles like cartoons, anime, or paintings
Examples of AIGC:
  • Videos where a person’s face, voice, or speech is changed by AI
  • Scenes or events that appear real but are made or edited using AI
  • Entire visuals of real or fictional people, places, or events created by AI
For more information about AIGC content, refer to AI Generated Content Guidelines.

Authentic and Accurate Content on TikTok Shop

Misleading content has a real impact on a buyer's experience. It can confuse and drive them away from your content if they find it unreliable. Always review your content for accuracy before uploading it. By promoting products with transparency, viewers feel empowered to make informed decisions. This fosters a positive environment on TikTok Shop where quality products and honest promotion thrive.
For more information, please refer to our TikTok Shop Content Policy.