TikTok creators cry foul as viral videos get disqualified before payday

As we approach the end of the month, a wave of discontent is sweeping through the TikTok community. Creators are taking to forums and social media to express their frustration over a sudden surge in video disqualifications, often citing reasons like “low quality” and “unoriginal content.”

While TikTok’s guidelines aim to weed out lazy or repetitive content, many creators claim their high-performing, entirely original videos are being unfairly targeted, especially as payout deadlines loom.

Imagine this: you’ve spent hours scripting, shooting, and editing a video. It goes viral, racking up millions of views and earning you hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars. Then, just days before payday, you receive the dreaded notification: your video has been disqualified from the Creator Rewards Program. The reason? Alleged low quality or unoriginality.

For many creators, this scenario feels like déjà vu. Reports are flooding platforms like Reddit and X, with some users alleging that TikTok is using disqualification as a cost-cutting measure. According to these creators, the pattern is almost too predictable — videos flagged only after they’ve accrued significant earnings.

TikTok’s new Creator Rewards Program guidelines, updated earlier this month, make it clear that quality and originality are now non-negotiable. Recycled, low-effort formats like screen recordings, split screens, or repetitive slideshows won’t make the cut. The platform says these rules are meant to ensure the content is engaging, valuable, and aligned with TikTok’s creative ethos. For some reason, TikTok’s CRP page won’t open for me, and unfortunately, my colleagues are in a banned country. But below is a snapshot shared by one user on Reddit.

But creators argue that the moderation process seems suspiciously timed. They claim their videos — many of which are supposedly original and well-crafted — are often flagged just before payouts. It’s possible that TikTok may be doubling down on enforcement as the month ends to ensure funds are only directed toward deserving creators.

Some creators have had success appealing disqualifications, but it’s not always a quick or reliable fix. In the meantime, the potential earnings from those videos are frozen. For creators relying on TikTok as a primary income source, these setbacks can feel like an existential threat to their livelihood.

It’s worth noting that TikTok’s stance isn’t entirely unreasonable. With millions of users vying for monetization, stricter guidelines are necessary to maintain the quality of content and protect the platform’s reputation. After all, TikTok thrives on engaging, high-quality videos that keep users hooked. If creators resort to recycled or low-effort content, the ecosystem suffers.

However, the timing and consistency of enforcement are under scrutiny. Many creators feel that if a video doesn’t meet the guidelines, it should be flagged earlier — not after it has garnered millions of views and significant earnings. Whether it’s about TikTok’s AI moderation push remains unclear.

The surge in disqualifications has left creators questioning whether TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program is worth the effort. For those still committed, the message is clear: step up your game. Originality, storytelling, and production quality are now the keys to success on TikTok.

Meanwhile, some TikTok users claim that their reposts are vanishing, something that could also have a negative impact on visibility and subsequently, earnings of the posts.