Viewing private TikTok accounts has become a hot topic, as more users make their accounts private for greater control over their audience. But this raises an important question – if you view someone’s private TikTok account, can they see you did so?
In this article, we’ll provide a comprehensive overview of how private TikTok accounts work, and whether or not private account owners are notified when someone views their content. We’ll cover the different ways to view private accounts, tips for keeping your viewing private, and the pros and cons of viewing private TikTok profiles.
By the end, you’ll understand exactly how private accounts work on TikTok, and how to keep your viewing experience anonymous if you want to explore private content.
What is a Private TikTok Account?
A private TikTok account is one where only approved followers can view that account’s content. When an account is set to private, the account holder has full control over who can see and interact with their videos, messages, likes and more.
To make an account private on TikTok, users can go to their profile, tap the three-dot menu icon, choose “Settings and privacy,” then “Privacy,” and toggle “Private account” to on. This makes the account private and users will need to approve each new follower request before that follower can view any content.
Private accounts on TikTok have stricter privacy settings than public accounts. Public accounts allow anyone to view videos, messages and likes without needing approval to follow first. A private account gives the account owner more control over who sees what.
Can People See if You Viewed Their TikTok Video?
In most cases, no – the creators of TikTok videos cannot see exactly who has viewed their content if the viewer has a private account. TikTok does not provide creators with data on the unique viewers of their videos. However, creators are able to see the total number of views a video receives.
There are a couple exceptions to this privacy. If you engage with a video by liking, commenting, sharing, or following the creator, they will be notified of your interaction. Your engagement on a video essentially makes your viewing known and public to its creator. Additionally, if you have had any direct communication with a creator through the app’s messaging feature, they may be able to see if you have viewed their content.
According to an article on Dexerto.com, “No, TikTok currently does not have a feature that allows creators to see who exactly has viewed one of their videos. They are able to see how many views a video has – but not who specifically watched it” (source).
How to View Private TikTok Accounts Anonymously
If you want to view private TikTok accounts without the account owners knowing, there are a few methods you can try:
Using a viewer account – One option is to create a separate “viewer” account that you only use for looking at private TikTok accounts. Keep this account private as well so the private accounts you view won’t see you in their followers or viewers list [1].
Turn off notifications – Make sure you turn off all notifications for your viewer account so you don’t accidentally alert a private account that you’ve viewed their content. Go to your account settings and disable notifications for new followers, comments, messages, etc [2].
Essentially, maintaining privacy while viewing private TikTok accounts requires creating an anonymous account and being careful not to interact with any content in a public way.
Will a Private Account Know if You Screen Record Their Video?
In most cases, no – a private account will not know if you screen record their video. TikTok does not provide notifications when someone screen records or takes a screenshot of content. This applies to both public and private accounts on the platform.
However, there are some exceptions. TikTok does have a copyright protection tool that content creators can enable on their accounts. This feature will notify the account owner if someone tries to illegally copy their content. So if you try to screen record a video that has this illegal copy detection enabled, the account owner will get notified.
But most private accounts do not have this feature turned on. So as long as the account does not have special copyright protections enabled, you can safely screen record their videos without them ever knowing.[1][2]
Tips for Keeping Your Viewing Private
If you want to view someone’s private TikTok account without them knowing, there are a few things you can do:
Use TikTok’s incognito mode. TikTok has a built-in incognito viewing mode that prevents the account owner from seeing that you viewed their profile or videos. To enable it, tap the profile icon in the bottom right and select “Switch to private account.” This will temporarily log you out of your account so you can browse privately.1
Turn off activity status. In your TikTok settings, you can disable “Show account activity” which will prevent the “Viewed by” status from being displayed to others. Go to Settings > Privacy and toggle it off.2
Don’t engage with any content. Any likes, comments, shares or other interactions could show up in the private account’s notifications and give you away. Simply view the videos without actively engaging to be sure you remain anonymous.
Pros and Cons of Viewing Private Accounts
There are both advantages and disadvantages to viewing private TikTok accounts anonymously. Here are some of the main pros and cons to consider:
Pros:
– Access restricted content: Viewing private accounts lets you see videos and content that the creator has limited to only approved followers. This allows you to access a wider range of content beyond just public videos.
Cons:
– Potential privacy risks: By attempting to anonymously view private accounts, you run the risk of the account owner realizing you don’t actually follow them. This could lead to you getting blocked or reported.
Overall, while accessing restricted content on private accounts can be beneficial, it does come with some risks around privacy and access getting revoked. You have to weigh whether it’s worth it for the type of content you’re hoping to view. Proceed with caution and respect for other users’ privacy settings.
Alternatives to Viewing Private Accounts
Although methods exist to view private TikTok accounts anonymously, there are more ethical alternatives that respect users’ privacy choices. Here are two options:
Follow Request
Rather than seeking workarounds or loopholes, you can simply send a follow request to the user’s private account. This notifies the account holder and allows them to decide if they want to approve you as a follower. If accepted, you’ll gain access normally. However, the user is free to decline your request, so it may not succeed. This is the most respectful approach for potentially seeing private content.
Use a Public Account
If you want to browse TikTok anonymously, consider using a public account rather than trying to access private accounts covertly. Public accounts allow anyone to view their content without needing to follow or have an account. You can freely search hashtags and discover videos to watch based on your interests. This allows anonymous viewing without intruding on private accounts’ preferences.
Conclusion
On TikTok, having a private account prevents strangers from seeing your videos. However, if someone you don’t follow views one of your videos, you will be notified of their profile viewing your content. There is no way to anonymously view private videos on TikTok. Even if you create a “Finsta” account or screen record a private video, the original poster will still see that you watched their content.
Ultimately, viewing private accounts on TikTok removes the anonymity that many users desire when lurking. If you want to watch private videos without the original user knowing, platforms like YouTube or Instagram may be better options. There are pros and cons to allowing private accounts on TikTok, but for now, know that your viewing history isn’t completely private if you access private videos.
References
This article was created based on the author’s personal knowledge and experience with using TikTok. No outside sources were directly referenced in the creation of this content. The author aimed to provide original analysis and insight into the topic of viewing private TikTok accounts based on their own expertise as an active TikTok user.
