TikTok is a slot machine for your attention. You open the app, intending to watch one video, and suddenly it's 2:00 AM and you're watching a guy in Australia build a primitive swimming pool out of mud. Usually, that’s fine. But sometimes the algorithm gets stuck. It thinks you want to see things you definitely don't. Maybe it’s a fitness trend that makes you feel bad, a political debate that stresses you out, or a repetitive "core" aesthetic that’s just plain annoying. You want to know how to block a hashtag on TikTok because hitting "Not Interested" on every single video feels like trying to empty the ocean with a spoon.
The weird part? TikTok doesn’t actually have a big, red "Block Hashtag" button on the hashtag pages themselves. If you go to a specific tag like #CottageCore, there is no toggle to banish it from your life forever. It's frustrating. It feels like the app is forcing content on you. But there is a way to do it. You just have to dig into the content preference settings where TikTok hides the "Filter Video Keywords" tool. It’s the closest thing we have to a scorched-earth policy for specific topics.
The Workaround: Using Keyword Filters to "Block" Hashtags
TikTok’s safety and privacy updates over the last year have moved things around quite a bit. To effectively block a hashtag on TikTok, you aren't technically blocking the tag itself—you are filtering keywords from your "For You" and "Following" feeds. This is a subtle distinction, but a crucial one. When you filter a keyword, the algorithm scans the captions and the hashtags of incoming videos. If it sees a match, that video never reaches your screen.
Here is how you actually get it done. Open your profile and hit those three little lines in the top right corner. Go to Settings and Privacy. You’ll see a section called Content Preferences. This is where the magic happens. Inside, there’s an option for Filter Video Keywords.
When you add a keyword here, you can type in the exact hashtag you hate. For example, if you're tired of seeing #Spoilers for a new movie, type exactly that. You can choose to filter it from just the "For You" feed or your "Following" feed as well. Honestly, just do both. It’s more effective. You can add up to 100 keywords. That sounds like a lot, but if you’re trying to curate a very specific vibe, you might hit that limit faster than you think.
Why "Not Interested" Isn't Enough
Most people start by long-pressing a video and tapping "Not Interested." It feels proactive. You think, "Cool, TikTok knows I hate this now." But the algorithm is stubborn. "Not Interested" tells the AI that you didn't like that specific video. It doesn't necessarily tell it that you hate the entire genre or the hashtag attached to it.
Think of the algorithm like a persistent dog. If you throw a ball (a video) and it doesn't bring it back, the dog thinks you just didn't like that particular ball. It will try bringing you a stick, a bone, or a different ball. By learning how to block a hashtag on TikTok through the keyword filter, you're basically putting up a fence. The dog can't bring anything into that area of the yard anymore.
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The Limits of the Filter
It isn't perfect. Let's be real.
TikTok’s AI is incredibly sophisticated, but it relies on what creators actually type. If a creator posts a video that clearly fits a hashtag you've blocked but they don't use that hashtag in the caption, the video might still slip through. This is common with "shadow-banning" workarounds where users intentionally misspell words to avoid filters—think "algospeak." If you block #WeightLoss, you might still see videos with captions like "W8 Loss" or "Body Transformation."
To really clean up your feed, you have to be a bit of a detective. If you see a video you hate, look at the caption. Are there other related hashtags? Block those too. It’s a game of whack-a-mole. It’s annoying, but it’s the only way to reclaim your sanity on the app.
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Does Blocking an Account Block the Hashtag?
No. Not even close. If you block an account, you won't see their videos. Simple. But if that account was the main person posting under a specific hashtag, you’ve only cut off one source. Thousands of other people are still using that tag. Relying on account blocks to manage hashtag content is like trying to stop the rain by holding up a single leaf. It won't work.
Refreshing Your Whole Algorithm
Sometimes the feed is so far gone that blocking a few hashtags won't save it. Maybe you went down a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories or weird "alpha male" podcasts and now your entire "For You" page is a mess. If learning how to block a hashtag on TikTok feels like too little too late, you might need to "Reset" your feed.
In that same Content Preferences menu, there is an option called Refresh your For You feed. This is the nuclear option. It wipes your watch history and starts you over from scratch as if you just downloaded the app. You’ll have to spend a few days "training" the AI again by liking things you actually enjoy. It’s a hassle, but it’s a fresh start.
Protecting Kids with Hashtag Filters
If you’re a parent, this keyword filtering tool is your best friend. TikTok’s "Family Pairing" mode allows you to manage a teen’s account from your own phone. You can remotely add filtered keywords to their account. This is huge. You can block hashtags related to dangerous challenges, mature themes, or anything else you don't want them stumbling across.
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The struggle is that kids are smart. They know the workarounds. They know how to search for things without using the "blocked" words. Digital parenting is never a "set it and forget it" situation, but the keyword filter gives you a fighting chance.
What to Do Next
Go to your settings right now. Don't wait.
- Navigate to Settings and Privacy.
- Tap Content Preferences.
- Select Filter Video Keywords.
- Enter the top three hashtags that annoy you the most.
- Select "For You" and "Following" as the targets.
- Save and restart the app.
You’ll notice a difference almost immediately. The feed will feel lighter. Less cluttered. If a stray video still makes it through, check the hashtags, add them to your list, and keep moving. You are the boss of your own attention, even if TikTok’s engineers want you to think otherwise. Curating your digital space is a form of mental hygiene. Treat your block list like a VIP guest list for your brain; if they don't bring good vibes, they don't get in.