Your Responsibility
TikTok's policies change frequently. Always check their latest guidelines before submission. This document provides guidance. Final approval decisions rest with TikTok Shop.
TikTok does not provide pre-approval. They can review and reject products at any time, even after initial approval. Given the printing costs you incur and to protect your investment, conservative interpretation of policies is best practice. When in doubt, choose the safer option.
Always refer to the official TikTok Shop policy for the most current information:
TikTok Shop Prohibited Products PolicyWhat TikTok Reviews
TikTok reviews public-facing content. They rarely read full manuscripts unless reported.
Always reviewed:
- Book title
- Product description
- Marketing copy
- Cover design (front and back)
- Author bio
- Promotional videos
Typically not reviewed:
- Internal chapters
- Full manuscript content
The implication: Your title and description carry more weight than your manuscript. A book with compliant content can be rejected for prohibited language in its marketing materials. Conversely, books with borderline content often gain approval when their descriptions use compliant terminology.
Prohibited Terms
These terms trigger automatic rejection.
Weight & Body Claims
- Weight loss
- Lose weight
- Fat burning
- Fat reduction
- Diet plan
- Rapid weight loss
- Body transformation
- Detox
- Cleanse
- Appetite suppressant
- Metabolism booster
Medical & Health Claims
- Cures [any condition]
- Medical treatment
- Heals [illness]
- FDA approved (unless documented)
- Clinically proven (without evidence)
- Guaranteed results
- Miracle cure
- Instant healing
Mental Health Violations
- Suicide methods
- Self-harm instructions
- Eating disorder promotion
- Mental illness glorification
Exaggerated Claims
- Secret doctors hate
- Revolutionary breakthrough
- 100% effective
- Overnight success
- Effortless results
- Never fails
- Guaranteed to work
Safe Language Alternatives
Frame as education, not transformation. TikTok allows teaching. TikTok blocks promises.
High-Risk Content Categories
Some topics require careful language. These books can be sold on TikTok Shop, but you must frame them correctly. The same book gets approved or rejected based entirely on how you describe it. Your phrasing determines the outcome.
Fitness & Health Books
- Focus on education and training methods
- Use "healthy habits" not "guaranteed results"
- Never promise weight loss outcomes
- Frame as information, not prescription
Mental Health & Self-Help
- Position as educational only
- Use "strategies" and "insights"
- Cannot promise cures or treatment
- Never discuss self-harm or suicide methods
Nutrition & Wellness
- "Nutrition education" not "diet plan"
- "Healthy recipes" not "weight loss meals"
- Avoid claims about fat burning or metabolism
Business & Personal Development
- Generally safe
- Avoid "guaranteed success" or "get rich quick"
- Focus on skills and strategies
The Golden Rule
Frame as educational information, not promised outcomes.
TikTok allows teaching and knowledge sharing. TikTok restricts claims about results.
Promise what readers achieve → you fail.
Pre-Submission Checklist
Review every element:
Automatic Disqualifiers
These categories cannot be sold on TikTok Shop:
- Weight loss or diet books with explicit weight loss claims
- Medical treatment guides (unless licensed)
- Books discussing suicide methods
- Content promoting eating disorders
- Unlicensed health or medical advice
- Adult or sexual content
A Note on Printing Costs
TikTok does not provide pre-approval for books. They can review and reject products at any time, even after initial approval. A rejected book represents a complete loss of printing costs.
Given the printing costs you incur and to protect your investment, conservative interpretation is best practice. When language is borderline, choose the safer alternative. The cost of rewriting marketing materials is minimal. The cost of printed but unsellable inventory is total.
Fixing Compliance Issues
Most problems can be fixed by rewriting descriptions. In most cases, you will not need to change your content. The issue is typically how you describe it, not what you wrote. However, if your book's core premise violates TikTok policies (such as promoting weight loss methods or medical treatments), content changes may be required.
Common fixes:
- Rewrite descriptions using safe alternatives
- Modify titles to remove prohibited terms
- Shift marketing focus from "results" to "education"
- Change health claims to educational information
The process:
- Identify prohibited terms in your materials
- Use the alternatives table to find replacements
- Rewrite before printing
- Submit after confirming compliance
Alchemy Books provides guidance and conducts preliminary reviews. Authors remain fully responsible for ensuring compliance with TikTok Shop policies. Final approval is not guaranteed.
TikTok updates policies regularly. Always verify current requirements before submission.