TikTok’s For You page (FYP) is the main feed that shows you videos based on your interests and engagement. The FYP is tailored to each user and is powered by TikTok’s recommendation algorithm. It’s designed to show you content that TikTok thinks you’ll enjoy and engage with.
However, sometimes the FYP may not reflect your interests and preferences. You may notice it showing unrelated videos or excluding content from creators you actually like. If this happens, it can be frustrating. You may be wondering, “Why is my TikTok FYP not showing videos I like?”
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the possible reasons your FYP isn’t tailored to your tastes and provide troubleshooting tips to fix it.
Understanding How the TikTok FYP Works
To understand why your FYP isn’t showing videos you like, it helps to first learn about how it works.
The FYP recommendation algorithm analyzes signals such as:
- The videos you like, comment on, share, etc.
- How long you watch a video before scrolling
- Which videos you watch all the way through
- The hashtags and sounds you engage with
- The creators you follow or subscribe to
Based on these signals, TikTok determines your interests and tries to populate your FYP with relevant content.
The algorithm also considers negative signals – content you quickly scroll past or don’t engage with. This content gets shown less on your FYP.
The goal is to refine the FYP over time to be hyper-personalized for each user. However, it doesn’t always work perfectly.
Reasons Your FYP May Not Show Videos You Like
You may be wondering: “Why is my TikTok FYP not what I like?”
There are a few common reasons why your FYP may fail to show videos you are interested in:
Not Enough Data for the Algorithm
If you’re a newer TikTok user or don’t engage heavily on the platform, the algorithm may not have enough signals to determine your interests. This can cause unrelated videos to be shown frequently.
The more you interact with content you enjoy, the quicker your FYP will improve. TikTok needs a certain amount of data to figure out your preferences.
Too Much Varied Engagement
Do you engage with lots of different content – across topics, genres, creators, etc? This can make it hard for TikTok to pinpoint your core interests.
Too much variation in the videos you watch and engage with may prevent your FYP from becoming targeted. The algorithm can’t determine a clear pattern in your viewing behavior.
Shift in Your Interests
It’s common for people’s interests to change over time. If your tastes have evolved but your engagement patterns remain the same, it can create a mismatch.
You may need to proactively shift your engagement habits to signal the change to the TikTok algorithm. For example, actively liking, sharing and viewing more videos that align with your new interests.
Problems With Hashtags and Sounds
Using popular hashtags and viral sounds can negatively impact your FYP personalization. When you engage with very mainstream content, you get grouped into larger audiences. This makes it harder to be served niche recommendations.
Your FYP may improve if you interact more with niche hashtags and sounds that precisely match your interests.
Buggy Algorithm or App Issues
Like any technology, TikTok’s algorithm isn’t perfect. Sometimes it may have issues analyzing signals properly. Bugs in the app may also interfere with the recommendation system.
Temporary algorithm or app problems on TikTok’s end could explain an irrelevant FYP that usually works well.
Shadowbanning
“Shadowbanning” refers to TikTok secretly restricting a user’s reach or limiting their visibility. It’s typically done if TikTok detects suspicious activity or violations of community guidelines.
Shadowbanning can prevent your profile and videos from showing up on the FYP of others. It may also impact your own FYP negatively.
Keep in mind that true shadowbanning is rare, and most issues can be explained by the other reasons listed here.
How to Get TikTok FYP to Show You Videos of Your Interest
If your FYP isn’t hitting the mark, don’t lose hope. There are steps you can take to get it showing videos relevant to your interests again:
Consistently Interact with Desired Content
Spend a week or two diligently liking, commenting on, sharing and viewing videos that represent the type of content you want to see more of. This trains the algorithm through clear signals.
Take your time watching videos too, rather than just quick scrolling. The longer you watch, the stronger the signal.
Follow Closely Aligned Creators
Build a list of creators that make videos perfectly aligned with your interests. Watch their content, subscribe to their channels, hit notifications, share videos, etc.
When the algorithm detects you consistently engaging with the same creators, it will surface their content and similar videos on your FYP.
Use Precise Hashtags and Sounds
Seek out niche, targeted hashtags and sounds that relate to your interests, rather than broad mainstream ones. For example, #CookingTips rather than just #Cooking.
The more precise your engagement, the better the algorithm can infer your preferences.
Reset Your Account
In severe cases of an irrelevant feed, you can completely reset your TikTok FYP. This erases all previous data so the algorithm can start fresh in learning your interests.
Note that you would lose your current followers, likes, etc. Talk to TikTok customer support before taking this drastic step.
Check for Shadowban
To rule out a shadowban, switch to a new device and search for your username. If your account doesn’t come up even when explicitly searched for, a shadowban may be in effect.
You can appeal shadowbans directly to TikTok through their appeals form.
Contact TikTok Support
If you’ve tried the main troubleshooting tips and your FYP still doesn’t reflect your interests, reach out directly to TikTok. Explain the issues you’re facing through their in-app support or feedback channels.
They may be able to identify and resolve algorithm bugs or problems on their end affecting your recommendations.
Tips to Improve Your TikTok Experience Going Forward
Here are some final tips to improve your experience on TikTok overall:
- Actively curate your Following list to control more of what you see beyond just the FYP.
- Use TikTok’s “Not Interested” button to signal content you don’t like.
- Be selective and intentional with your engagement habits to provide clear signals.
- Branch out to find niche hashtags, sounds and creators all within your interests.
- If you switch accounts, train the new account’s FYP by consistently engaging with your desired content right from the start.
- Practice patience. It can take weeks or months for the algorithm to fully optimize and personalize your FYP.
Conclusion
A poorly personalized FYP that doesn’t reflect your interests can really dampen your TikTok experience. Luckily, in most cases, there are steps you can take to get your FYP back on track.
Pay close attention to your engagement patterns, find niche interests to follow, and consistently interact with relevant content. Over time, this will retrain the TikTok algorithm and populate your FYP with videos you genuinely love.
Have you struggled with an irrelevant FYP on TikTok before? What steps did you find most helpful to fix it? Let us know in the comments!
