TikTok is a popular social media platform that has over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide as of early 2023, according to TikTok Statistics 2023 – Users, Usage, Trends and Facts. On TikTok, users can view and interact with short-form videos as well as explore other users’ profiles.
When viewing other TikTok profiles, users may be interested to see which profiles they have already visited previously. However, TikTok does not have a built-in feature to easily view your complete profile viewing history. This article will examine methods and tools that can help TikTok users see which profiles they have viewed.
Why View Profiles You’ve Visited?
There are several reasons why TikTok users may want to view profiles they have previously visited on the platform:
To revisit profiles they are interested in or want to follow. Users may visit a profile, forget to follow at the time, and want to go back to view it again later and follow the account. Revisiting profiles allows users to re-evaluate if they want to follow someone.
To “stalk” certain profiles. Some users admittedly visit certain profiles repeatedly to keep tabs on those users’ activities. Though this straddles ethical lines, users cite interest in others’ content as a reason for revisiting.
To see if a profile has changed. Users may revisit a profile to see if the account holder has posted new content or made changes to their profile since the last visit.
Viewing Your Own View History
Unlike some other social media platforms, TikTok does not have a built-in view history that shows you profiles you’ve visited in the app. This means there is no direct way within TikTok itself to see what profiles you’ve viewed in the past.
TikTok does not keep track of or make available a log of profiles you’ve clicked on. So if you want to look back at TikTok profiles you’ve previously viewed, you won’t find that feature within the TikTok app or on the TikTok website.
Some users wish TikTok did have a view history, as it would provide helpful insight into their interests and the types of accounts they engage with. However, for privacy reasons, TikTok does not monitor or store records of the profiles each user views.
In summary, unlike platforms like Instagram and Facebook that offer view histories, TikTok currently does not have any built-in feature or setting that lets you see a list of profiles you’ve previously visited within the app itself.
Using Browser History
One way to see which TikTok profiles you’ve visited is by checking your browser history. When you visit a profile on TikTok, it gets logged in your browser’s history on that device.
On mobile, you can view your browser history in the Chrome app by tapping the three dot menu > History. On iPhone, go to Settings > Safari > History. For desktop browsers like Chrome, Firefox or Edge, open your history tab to see visited websites and web pages.
Look through your browser history for entries from TikTok like “tiktok.com/@profileusername”. This will show you which profiles you’ve directly visited. Keep in mind that your browser history can get cleared over time as new sites are visited, so it may not show a complete list.
While checking browser history can reveal visited profiles, it’s limited compared to profile view history within the TikTok app. Browser history also won’t tell you if someone else has viewed your profile. Overall, it provides a way to see some of the TikTok profiles you’ve directly opened and viewed.
TikTok Viewer Tools
There are some third-party tools and browser extensions that can help you track the TikTok profiles you have viewed:
One popular Chrome extension is TOKaudit. This extension lets you sort videos, analyze metrics, and audit any TikTok profile. It can show you a list of all the profiles you have visited recently while browsing TikTok.
Another option is an extension like View Private TikTok Accounts. This claims to let you view private profiles and see your own view history. However, some users report issues with accessing private accounts.
There are also sites like Stoky that provide tools to see info about accounts you have viewed. You simply enter the profile name to access metrics.
While third party tools can help, they may have limited functionality or accessibility issues. Proceed with caution when using extensions or sites that claim to unlock private profile info.
Private Browsers and Incognito Mode
One way to view TikTok profiles anonymously is by using a private browser or incognito mode. Private browsing prevents the browser from saving your browsing history, cookies, site data and search history. This means the profiles you view won’t be logged in your browser history.
To use private browsing:
- On Chrome desktop, click the three dots in the top right and select “New incognito window”.
- In Chrome mobile, tap the three dots in the bottom right and choose “New incognito tab”.
- In Safari desktop and mobile, click “File” then “New Private Window”.
- In Firefox desktop, click the three horizontal lines in the top right then choose “New Private Window”.
- In Firefox iOS, tap the “AA” button in the bottom left and select “Private Browsing”.
- In Microsoft Edge, click the three dots in the top right and choose “New InPrivate window”.
When using private browsing, any TikTok profiles you view won’t be saved in your browser history. Just make sure to close all incognito windows when you’re done to erase your private session. This prevents others from viewing your private browsing history.
Clearing Your TikTok and Browser History
If you want to erase the record of profiles you’ve viewed on TikTok, you can clear your TikTok search history and your browser history. Here’s how:
To clear your TikTok search history:
- Open the TikTok app and tap on your profile icon in the bottom right.
- Go to Settings > Privacy and Safety > Clear Watch History.
- Tap “Clear” to erase your TikTok watch history.
To clear your browser history:
- Open your browser on your phone or computer.
- Open settings or history options.
- Look for a “Clear History” or “Clear Browsing Data” option and select it.
- Confirm that you want to erase your browsing history.
Clearing both your TikTok and browser history will remove the record of which TikTok profiles you’ve previously viewed. However, this does not prevent your future views from being tracked again. To stop that, you would need to turn off profile view history in your TikTok settings.
TikTok Profile Settings for Viewers
You can adjust your TikTok profile settings to control who can view your profile and posts. This allows you to limit the information that other users can see if you are concerned about privacy.
To make your TikTok profile completely private, go to your profile, tap the three-dot menu icon, and select “Privacy and safety.” Then toggle “Private account” on. This will make your videos, likes, followers, and following lists invisible to anyone you don’t approve to follow you 1.
You can also block other TikTok users from interacting with your profile. Go to the profile you want to block, tap the three-dot menu icon, and select “Block.” Blocked accounts won’t be able to view your profile, videos, or send you messages.
Turning off your own ability to view other profiles can also increase privacy. Go to “Settings and privacy” then “Discoverability” and toggle “Suggest your account to others” off. This stops TikTok from recommending your profile to new users.
Adjusting these settings gives you greater control over who can view and interact with your TikTok profile. It’s a good option if you are concerned about privacy or limiting unwanted attention on the platform.
Legal and Ethical Concerns
While there may be legitimate reasons for wanting to view someone’s TikTok profile anonymously, there are also potential legal and ethical issues to consider.
Repeatedly viewing someone’s profile without their knowledge could potentially constitute stalking or harassment, especially if done maliciously or obsessively. TikTok’s terms of service prohibit stalking, threatening, or harassing other users.
There are also privacy implications. People who post videos and content on TikTok likely expect a certain level of privacy and anonymity for casual viewers. Using third-party tools to uncover private information like a user’s viewers goes beyond TikTok’s intended features.
Ultimately, viewing TikTok profiles anonymously should be done ethically, legally, and in moderation. While occasional viewing out of curiosity may be harmless, repeated viewing of private profiles could potentially cross ethical lines, lead to harassment charges, or violate TikTok’s policies.
Conclusion
In summary, while TikTok doesn’t have a built-in way to see who has viewed your profile or who you’ve viewed, there are some workarounds. Using your browser history, TikTok viewer tools, or incognito/private browsing can give you insight into profiles you’ve visited. However, these methods have limitations and privacy implications. The best approach is being mindful of your viewing habits and clearing your history regularly if you want it private. TikTok prioritizes protecting user privacy, so viewing histories are not shown without consent. Overall, profile viewing on TikTok is anonymous by design.
