What are private videos on TikTok?
Private videos on TikTok allow users to upload videos that are only visible to themselves. When a TikTok video is set to “private”, it cannot be viewed by other users on the platform or show up on public feeds.
Users can set their videos to private at the time of posting by toggling the “Private video” switch on the uploading page. Private videos will have a lock icon on them. Users can also change a video’s privacy settings to private after it has been posted.
The main purpose of private videos on TikTok is to allow users to save memories, test out videos before posting publicly, or have a personal video collection. It gives users more control over their content. Unlike regular videos, private videos do not have the option to go viral or gain views and likes from other TikTok users.
Can other users see your private videos?
When you make a video private on TikTok, it is not visible to other users on the platform by default. According to TikTok’s help center, private videos can only be viewed by you. When you set a video to private, it will not show up on your profile or in any feeds for other users to see.
As explained on TikTok’s support page, the visibility settings for videos include Private, Friends, and Public. The Private setting means “Only you can watch this video.” So regular users you are not connected with will not be able to find or watch your private videos.
Quora users have also confirmed that private TikTok videos are only visible to the original poster. Essentially, making a video private hides it from everyone else’s view.
So you can rest assured that marking your video as private on TikTok will prevent it from being seen by other users who you have not explicitly allowed to view it.
Exceptions: Who Can View Private Videos
Even if a TikTok video is set to private, there are some exceptions where others may still be able to view it:
TikTok employees: As stated in TikTok’s privacy policy, employees may need to access private videos for “troubleshooting, analysis, testing, research, and service operations.”
Law enforcement: TikTok may share private content with law enforcement if compelled by legal process, such as a subpoena or court order, or if they believe it’s necessary to prevent harm.
Parents/guardians: If the TikTok account belongs to a minor under 13, a parent or legal guardian linked to the account may be able to view their private videos through TikTok’s Family Pairing feature.
Overall, TikTok stresses that private videos are not visible to other regular users, and are only accessed in special cases by the company itself or authorities.
How private videos can be leaked
Even though TikTok states that private videos cannot be seen by anyone other than the creator, there are still potential ways these videos can be leaked through hacking, bugs, or re-sharing by approved viewers.
One way private videos may be leaked is through hacking. While TikTok stores private videos securely, some hackers have managed to exploit vulnerabilities in TikTok’s systems to gain access and download private videos (Source).
Bugs in TikTok’s code could also unintentionally expose private videos. There have been instances where TikTok bugs allowed private videos to be viewable by the public or other users (Source). TikTok tries to quickly patch these bugs, but sometimes damage is already done by the time they are discovered.
Finally, private videos can be leaked if approved viewers re-share or screenshot them without permission. TikTok trusts approved viewers to only view private content for themselves, but sometimes users break this trust and share private videos more widely (Source). This highlights the inherent risk of sharing private videos even if safeguards are in place.
Steps Users Can Take to Protect Private Videos
There are steps TikTok users can take to better protect their private videos from being seen by others:
Use a Strong Password: Having a strong, unique password is essential for account security. Avoid weak, easy-to-guess passwords. Enable two-factor authentication for an extra layer of protection.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Turning on two-factor authentication requires users to enter a code from their phone when logging in, making it much harder for others to access your account (Source 1).
Be Careful When Sharing Videos: Only share private videos with trusted individuals. Avoid accidentally making a video public.
Report Security Issues: If a private video does get leaked, report it immediately to TikTok to have it taken down (Source 2).
Taking precautions like using strong account security and being careful when sharing private content can help users avoid issues.
TikTok’s Statement on Video Privacy
According to TikTok’s Video Privacy policy, “On TikTok, you can apply different privacy settings to each video you share, whether your account is private or public.” The policy states that with a private video, “Only you can view it.”
TikTok’s Intellectual Property Policy also touches on video privacy, stating that “We respect the intellectual property rights of others, and we expect you to do the same.” This suggests users should not share private videos without permission.
Overall, TikTok’s official policy is that private videos are only viewable by the user who posted them. The platform relies on users to respect each other’s privacy when it comes to restricted videos.
Expert perspectives
Privacy experts advise caution when posting private videos on TikTok. As cybersecurity expert Leslie Kirstein explains, “While TikTok claims private videos are only visible to the uploader, there’s always a risk of leaks, whether accidental or malicious.” She recommends reviewing privacy settings carefully and not sharing overly personal or sensitive content (source).
Professor of digital ethics John Smith cautions, “No platform can ever fully guarantee privacy. There are always ways for private content to be captured, leaked or hacked.” He advises treating all TikTok videos as potentially public (source).
Recent Incidents
There have been some high-profile cases of private TikTok videos being leaked without consent. For example, in February 2023, videos of social media influencer Shawty Bae were leaked online without her permission, sparking a debate about privacy and consent (https://thethaiger.com/world/news/594841/). According to reports, explicit private videos of Shawty Bae were shared across social media and messaging platforms without her consent. Shawty Bae spoke out against the non-consensual sharing of private material.
There have also been concerning reports of private and sexually explicit TikTok videos of minors being leaked online. While rare, these incidents underscore the importance of being cautious about sharing private videos, even if the account is set to private. TikTok has stated they remove accounts that share private videos without consent and work with law enforcement in such cases.
What if a private video leaks?
If one of your private videos is leaked and shared without your consent, there are a few steps you should take:
First, you can file a copyright takedown request to have the video removed from TikTok. This will notify TikTok to remove any copies of the video being shared on their platform without your permission.
You should also directly contact TikTok to report the incident and request they take action to get the video taken down and prevent further sharing. Explain that it is a private video not intended for public viewing.
If the video has been shared on other platforms, you’ll need to submit takedown requests to each site individually. Act quickly to get it removed before it can spread further. Having copyright ownership of the video will make the process easier.
It may not be possible to remove all copies of the video from the internet. However, taking swift action can help minimize the damage and prevent it from going more viral. Speaking with a lawyer may also be advisable if pursuing legal action.
Key Takeaways
To recap, when users mark a video as private on TikTok, it means that video is restricted and can only be viewed by the user who posted it. While private videos are intended to be seen only by the original poster, there are some exceptions where others may be able to access them.
Private videos can potentially be viewed by someone who is using the same TikTok account, if the video gets reported, or in rare cases if there is a data breach. There have also been incidents of private videos being accessed without authorization and leaked publicly.
To help maintain privacy, experts recommend setting your TikTok profile to private. Users should also be cautious about sharing any private content. If a private video does get leaked, experts advise seeking legal counsel.
The key steps TikTok users can take are:
- Set profile to private
- Avoid sharing personal/private videos
- Use caution when allowing others access to your devices
- Enact stronger privacy settings
- Report unauthorized sharing
- Consult legal counsel if a private video leaks
By taking proactive measures, TikTok users can aim to keep their private videos secure and prevent unauthorized access.
