What Does It Mean For A TikTok Account To Be Private?
A private account on TikTok allows the user to have more control over who can view and interact with their content. When an account is set to private, the user must manually approve each follower request in order for a new follower to access the private account’s videos, likes, and comments (kidsnclicks.com).
With a private account, only approved followers will be able to view the account’s TikTok videos, recent likes, user bios, and comments. The profile photo and bio of a private account will remain visible even to those who are not approved followers. However, unapproved users will not be able to view any other content until their follow request is accepted by the private account holder.
Making an account private is a way for TikTok users to exercise more control over who sees and interacts with their content. It allows them to create a more selective audience rather than having all of their videos and activity open to the general public.
Can A Private Account See Who Views Their TikToks?
Yes, private accounts on TikTok can see who views their profile and content, but with some limitations compared to public accounts. When an account is set to private, only approved followers can view that account’s videos. However, private accounts can still get view counts and see how many people have looked at their profile and TikToks.
Private TikTok accounts have access to analytics showing total views, likes, comments, shares and more. They can see aggregated data on their viewers and engagement. However, private accounts can’t see the specific people who viewed individual TikTok videos like public accounts can. The view counts don’t disclose identifies of who watched their content.
So in summary, private TikTok accounts can see analytics on their overall views and engagement, but they can’t see the specific usernames of who viewed each TikTok video. The view counts remain anonymized. This gives private accounts some visibility into their reach and popularity, while still limiting access to their content and preserving some privacy over public accounts.
View Counts For Private Accounts
Users with private TikTok accounts can still see view counts on their videos to track total views. According to TikTok’s help center, “The view count on your videos reflects all views, even if your account is private” (source). This allows private accounts to analyze performance and see which videos are resonating with their audience.
The view count metrics available to private accounts include total video views, likes, comments, shares, and more. These analytics provide insight into how each video is being received. For example, a video may have a high view count but low engagement, indicating that people watched it but did not interact much.
While public accounts show the exact view count, TikTok masks specific view numbers on private accounts. Instead of showing the exact view count, it displays a range like 50-100 views. This adds an element of privacy while still providing private accounts with useful analytics.
Analyzing Views On Private Accounts
Private accounts on TikTok get analytics about how many views their videos receive, but they don’t receive information about who specifically is viewing their content. According to TikTok’s help page, “Private accounts can see how many times their videos were viewed in Analytics, but cannot see who specifically watched them.”
So while a private TikTok account holder can analyze metrics like total views, likes, comments, etc. on their videos, they have no way to identify individual viewers. The analytics provided are aggregated and anonymous. This allows private accounts to assess their overall performance and reach while still maintaining privacy over who is accessing their profile and content.
TikTok Analytics For Private Accounts
Private TikTok accounts have access to the same analytics and insights about their content as public accounts. According to TikTok’s Information about TikTok Analytics, analytics are provided based on engagement data related to the account holder’s own account, regardless of whether the account is private or public.
This means private account holders can view metrics like number of plays, likes, comments, shares, follower growth and more for their own TikToks. They have access to the same Analytics section under Creator Tools where these stats can be tracked over time.
So having a private account does not restrict a user from viewing detailed analytics on how their content is performing. The key difference from public accounts is that only the account owner can access analytics for their private videos.
Making Your TikTok Account Private
Switching to a private account is easy to do in settings. Here are the steps to make your TikTok account private on iOS or Android:
1. Open the TikTok app and go to your profile by tapping the “Me” tab on the bottom.
2. Tap on the three dots in the top right corner to open the menu.
3. Select “Settings and privacy” from the menu.
4. Tap “Privacy” and then toggle the switch next to “Private account” to turn it green.
5. Confirm that you want to make your account private when prompted.
That’s it! Your TikTok profile is now set to private. Only your approved followers will be able to see your videos, likes, comments, and other activity. You can always switch back to a public account in your settings if you change your mind later.
Going private gives you more control over who can interact with you on TikTok. It’s a good option if you only want friends and family following you or if you’re concerned about unwanted attention from strangers on the platform.
Who Can Follow A Private Account?
When a TikTok account is set to private, users must send a follow request and be approved by the account owner in order to view that account’s content. Private accounts give the owner full control over who can see and interact with their videos.
If a user attempts to follow a private TikTok account, they will see a “Follow” button instead of the standard “Following” button. Tapping this sends a request to the private account owner. The owner can then decide whether to accept or deny the request in their settings. An accepted request allows the user to view and comment on the private account’s videos. A denied request means the user remains unable to access the private profile.
Private account owners can also block followers at any time, instantly removing those users’ access. Additionally, private accounts do not appear in recommendations or “Following” lists, preventing random users from discovering those profiles.
Overall, making an account private on TikTok allows creators to limit their audience and vet who interacts with their content. This gives users more control over their online presence.(1)
Interacting With Private Accounts
Unlike public TikTok accounts, liking, commenting on, and sharing videos from private accounts requires you to follow that account first. This allows the private account owner to control who engages with their content.
If you try to like, comment on, or share a private TikTok without following that account, you’ll get a message saying the action isn’t allowed. The only way to interact with private videos is to send a follow request and have it approved by the account owner.
Once you are following a private account, you can like, comment on, and share their TikToks normally. You’ll also be able to see new posts from private accounts you follow in your main For You feed like any other account you follow.
However, if the private account owner decides to block you, you will no longer be able to view or engage with their private videos even if you are still following them. The account owner has full control over who can access and interact with their private TikTok profile.
Finding Private Accounts On TikTok
It can be difficult to locate private accounts through search and hashtags on TikTok. Since private accounts do not show up in searches or hashtag feeds, you need to find them through other means. Some options include:
– Getting recommendations from people you know who follow private accounts. They can share the profile links with you so you can request to follow.
– Checking the “Following” lists of public accounts you already follow. Some of the people they follow may be private accounts.
– Occasionally, TikTok will recommend private accounts on your main “For You” feed based on your interests and activity. But this doesn’t happen consistently.
– There are some third-party websites that claim to find private TikTok accounts, but it’s uncertain how legitimate these services are. Use caution when searching outside of the main TikTok app.
While you can send follow requests to any account, private profiles can choose whether to accept or deny your request. There’s no guaranteed way to access private TikTok accounts unless the owner approves you. But checking the “Following” lists of existing connections can be one of the most effective ways to find new private accounts to follow.
Source: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/how-to-find-private-accounts
Pros And Cons Of A Private Account
Making your TikTok account private comes with both benefits and drawbacks. The main advantage of a private account is increased control over your audience. With a private profile, you get to approve each and every follower, letting only people you know access your content. This prevents random strangers from viewing your videos.
Having a private account also gives you more privacy, since your likes, comments, and other interactions are hidden from people who don’t follow you. Essentially, you have a smaller, more selective audience. This allows you to be more selective about the content you share.
However, the downside is that a private account has less discoverability. Your videos won’t show up on public feeds like the For You page, making it harder to gain new followers organically. You also won’t be able to participate in public hashtag challenges or trends, limiting your opportunities for going viral.
Overall, the choice between a private or public profile depends on your priorities. If you value privacy and control, a private account makes sense. But if you want to maximize your growth and views on TikTok, a public profile is likely the better option.
