How to Block Certain Words on TikTok

Tired of seeing spammy, hateful, or just plain annoying comments on your TikTok videos? You can reclaim control over your comment section by blocking specific words and phrases. This guide will show you exactly how to filter your comments and DMs on TikTok, turning your corner of the internet into a safer, more positive space.

Why Should You Block Words on TikTok?

Before getting into the how-to, it’s worth understanding why this feature is so powerful. Managing your TikTok presence isn’t just about posting great content, it’s about fostering a community where people feel comfortable engaging. Filtering out specific words is a proactive way to manage that environment. Here’s a breakdown of the benefits:

• Create a Safer Community: The most important reason is to protect yourself and your followers. Blocking slurs, hate speech, and terms associated with bullying makes your comment section a more welcoming place for everyone.
• Reduce Spam and Scams: Comments like "check the link in my bio!" or "get 10k followers free" are not genuine engagement. Filtering out common spam phrases keeps your comment section clean and protects your followers from potentially malicious links or scams.
• Protect Your Brand’s Image: As a creator or a business, you want to maintain a certain brand image. You can block competitor names, misleading information about your products, or any negative keywords that don’t align with your brand’s values. This prevents hijackers from derailing your conversations.
• Support Your Mental Health: Your well-being matters. If certain topics or words are triggering or simply affect you negatively, you have every right to remove them from your space. This could include unsolicited opinions, body-shaming terms, or anything else that disrupts your peace. It’s your account, and you get to set the rules.

How to Block Certain Words in Your TikTok Comments

TikTok’s comment filter is your primary tool for managing your community. When you add a word to your filter list, any comment containing that word will be hidden from everyone, including you, unless you choose to review it. Think of it as an automatic moderation assistant working for you 24/7.

Here’s how to set it up step-by-step:

1. Open Your Profile: Launch the TikTok app and tap on the Profile icon in the bottom-right corner.
2. Access the Menu: Tap the three horizontal lines (the "hamburger" menu) in the top-right corner to open up your settings.
3. Go to "Settings and privacy": At the bottom of the menu, select Settings and privacy.
4. Navigate to "Privacy": In the Settings menu, find and tap on Privacy. This is where you control who sees your content and how they can interact with it.
5. Find the "Comments" Section: Scroll down through the Privacy options until you see Comments under the "Interactions" heading. Tap on it.
6. Enable "Filter keywords": You'll see several options for managing comments. Toggle on the switch next to Filter keywords. Once it's blue, the feature is active.
7. Add Your Keywords: Tap Add keywords just below the toggle. This is where you’ll build your block list. You can add single words or entire phrases. After typing each word or phrase, press enter or the add button to add it to your list. The list can hold hundreds of words, so be thorough!

Once you’ve added keywords, comments containing them will automatically be held for your review instead of being publicly posted. You can find these filtered comments below the keyword list in the "Review filtered comments" section.

What Kinds of Words Should You Block on TikTok?

Your filter list is personal, but if you're looking for a place to start, think about these categories:

1. Spam and Scams

Spammers often use the same predictable phrases. Blocking them can dramatically clean up your comments section.

• "follow for follow" / "f4f"
• "check my bio" / "link in bio"
• "DM me for"
• Common crypto/NFT scam terms like "whitelist" or "airdrop"
• "free followers"
• "promo"

2. Hate Speech and Bullying

This is non-negotiable for creating a safe space. Add any known slurs, derogatory terms, and phrases aimed at harassing people.

• Racial, homophobic, or misogynistic slurs.
• Insults about appearance (e.g., "ugly," "fat").
• Words meant to incite violence or harassment.

Note: TikTok's Community Guidelines already do a good job of catching the most egregious terms, but a custom list helps you catch the ones that slip through the cracks.

3. Brand-Specific Keywords

If you run a brand account, be strategic about protecting your conversations.

• Competitor Names: Prevent people from promoting competitors in your comments section.
• Negative Product Terms: If there's a common misconception or piece of FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) being spread, you can filter those terms to review and address them thoughtfully instead of letting them run wild.
• Off-Topic discussions: If your account is about baking, for example, you might want to filter out political terms to keep the conversation on topic.

4. Personal Triggers and Well-being

This category is entirely up to you. You don’t need to justify your choices to anyone. Think about words or topics that affect your mental health.

• Diet-related terms or weight comments.
• Unsolicited medical advice.
• Specific names or topics you simply don't want to engage with.
• Phrases like "you should" or "you need to," which often precede unwanted advice.

How to Filter Keywords in Your Direct Messages

TikTok also allows you to apply keyword filters to your Direct Messages (DMs). This feature helps you catch unwanted or inappropriate messages before they land in your main inbox. Any message requests from people you don't follow that contain your keywords will be sent to a "Filtered requests" folder instead.

Here's how to set this up:

1. Follow a Similar Path: Start by going to your Profile > Menu > Settings and privacy > Privacy.
2. Select "Direct messages": In the "Interactions" list, tap on Direct messages.
3. Manage Message Filters: Under "Message filters," tap on Filtered requests.
4. Turn on the Keyword Filter: Toggle on the switch next to Filter keywords to activate the feature.
5. Add Your Keywords: Tap Add keywords and enter the words and phrases you want to filter from your DMs, just like you did for comments.

Now, message requests containing your chosen keywords will be moved to a separate folder, giving you more control over who can directly contact you.

Best Practices for a Healthy Comment Section

Setting up your filter list is the first step. To make it truly effective, keep these best practices in mind:

• Update Your List Regularly: Online language and spam tactics change quickly. It’s a good idea to review and update your keyword list every month or so. If a video goes viral, you might need to update it more frequently to deal with new waves of troll or spam comments.
• Think About Variations: People trying to evade filters get creative. They'll use numbers instead of letters (l33t speak) or add extra characters. As you add a word, consider common misspellings or variations. For example, if you want to block "scam," you might also add "sc@m" or "scamm."
• Use the "Filter All Comments" Feature When Needed: In your comment settings, there's an option to "Filter All Comments." This holds every single comment for your approval. It's a heavy-handed approach but can be invaluable for a short period - for instance, if you're dealing with a massive influx of negativity or are in the middle of a sensitive campaign. You can turn it on temporarily until things calm down.
• Remember That Filters Aren't Perfect: Filtering is an amazing tool, but it won't catch everything. Moderation shouldn't be fully automated. Still plan to periodically check your comments - both the visible ones and the filtered ones - to make sure nothing inappropriate has slipped through.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to block certain words on TikTok gives you the power to shape your online experience. It transforms community management from a reactive, stressful task into a proactive, empowering process. By setting up filters for both your comments and DMs, you can protect your brand, nurture a positive community, and, most importantly, safeguard your own mental well-being.

As you spend more time on community management, you'll realize it's a huge part of building a successful social media presence. At Postbase, we built our unified inbox to make this process less chaotic. Instead of jumping between TikTok, Instagram, and other apps to check comments and DMs, you can manage all your conversations from one clean, organized place. This helps our users respond faster, stay on top of engagement, and spend more time creating content instead of getting lost in notification overload.