What is TikTok?
TikTok is a video sharing social network owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. It allows users to create, edit and share short 15 to 60 second videos. TikTok had 1.5 billion monthly active users in 2022, making it one of the most popular social apps in the world.
The platform is especially popular with teenagers and young adults. As of December 2023, about 43% of TikTok’s global audience is between the ages of 10 and 19. The app allows users to express themselves creatively and share bite-sized entertaining videos with music and effects.
Creating an Account
To fully participate on TikTok and gain access to certain features, it’s necessary to create an account by signing up. According to TikTok’s support page, here are the steps to create an account:
- Download the TikTok app from the App Store or Google Play.
- Open the app and tap the profile icon in the bottom right.
- Tap “Sign up” and enter your email, phone number, username, password, and date of birth.
- Agree to TikTok’s terms of service and privacy policy.
The main benefits of creating a TikTok account include:
- Ability to post your own videos and comment on other videos
- Connect with friends, followers, and creators
- Personalized “For You” feed based on your interests and engagement
Overall, an account allows full use of TikTok’s features for uploading, interacting, and tailoring your experience.
Browsing as a Guest
TikTok allows users to browse video content on the platform without needing to create an account or log in (TikTok Help Center). This allows guests to watch videos and discover new creators and trends on TikTok without providing any personal information or signing up.
However, browsing as a guest comes with some limitations. Guests cannot like, comment on, or share videos. They also cannot follow creators or curate their own For You feed. Other features like duets, stitches, and accessing messages are restricted without an account. Overall, the experience is view-only without engagement capabilities (MakeUseOf).
So while TikTok does allow casual browsing without an account, signing up for an account unlocks more of the core TikTok experience around engaging with videos and creators. Guests miss out on key community features that registered users can fully utilize.
Finding Content
TikTok allows guests to explore a wide variety of content without registering for an account. The Explore page features trending hashtags and sounds that guests can click on to discover popular videos. Using hashtags is one of the best ways to find videos about specific topics, songs, or memes on TikTok. Guests can search for hashtags like #cooking, #dance, or #fyp (for you page) to see videos using that tag.
The For You feed also shows guests popular and trending videos based on what’s gaining views and shares on TikTok. Guests can scroll through this feed to check out viral videos and sounds. There is also a Trending page that displays the top videos, hashtags, and effects rising in popularity across the app.
Additionally, guests can use the search bar to look up specific users, songs, or topics they want to see videos about. For example, searching for a musician like “Ed Sheeran” will bring up TikToks using his songs. Guests can search for the kind of content they like and tailor their browsing experience.
Limits of Guest Browsing
While browsing TikTok as a guest provides some functionality, there are limitations to the guest experience compared to having a registered account. Some key limits to be aware of include:
- Can’t like or follow creators – Guests miss out on the ability to show appreciation and support for their favorite creators by liking and following them. This also means guests won’t get notified when those creators post new videos.
- No algorithmic customized feed – Without an account, guests don’t get a personalized “For You” feed based on their interests and engagement. The guest feed is more generic.
- Miss out on some features like duets – Guests can’t participate in collaborative features like dueting with or stitching other creators’ videos. An account is required.
So while it’s possible to browse a sampling of TikTok as a guest, signing up for an account unlocks the full experience. Guests miss out on key features that allow for deeper engagement with content and creators.
Creating an Account
To sign up for a TikTok account, users can simply provide their email address, phone number, or connect via a social media platform like Facebook or Twitter to get started (https://www.tiktok.com/signup/create-account). Users then choose a unique username, set their privacy preferences, add some profile details if desired, and they’re ready to start using the app.
Once signed up, users have access to a personalized TikTok homepage and “For You” feed of recommended videos based on their preferences and engagement. Having an account allows for posting original content, following other users, liking and commenting, and generally having a more customized experience compared to browsing as a guest.
Differences for Registered Users
Registered users on TikTok can take advantage of many features not available to guest users. According to TikTok’s support page, the key differences include:
- Like videos and follow creators – Only registered users can like, share, follow creators, or subscribe to content. Guests can view but not interact.
- Comment on videos – You must have an account to post comments on videos. Guests cannot contribute to conversations.
- Access more advanced features – Options like going live, uploading videos, using filters, accessing analytics and more require an account.
By signing up, users gain access to the full breadth of community features on TikTok. This allows for greater participation and engagement.
Privacy Considerations
TikTok has faced scrutiny over privacy and data collection practices. As a Chinese-owned app, some fear TikTok shares data with the Chinese government, though TikTok claims it stores U.S. user data in Virginia with backups in Singapore. (1) TikTok settled a 2019 FTC complaint alleging it illegally collected personal information from children. (2)
Users can make accounts private, restricting profile access to approved followers only. TikTok also lets users disable comments, restrict duets/stitches, and hide like and view counts. However, limiting data collection requires avoiding the app altogether. TikTok’s privacy policy says it collects data like location, browsing history, search history, and more. While users can opt-out of personalized ads, TikTok still profiles users for content suggestions. (3)
For younger users, TikTok has parental controls like screen time limits and restricted mode, but monitoring teen usage can be challenging. Experts recommend speaking with teens about being cautious in sharing personal info and avoiding overuse. (4)
(1) https://time.com/6265651/tiktok-security-us/
(3) https://www.tiktok.com/legal/privacy-policy
(4) https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/parents-ultimate-guide-to-tiktok
Pros of Guest Browsing
One of the main benefits of browsing TikTok as a guest is the ability to view videos easily without needing an account or going through any login process. As soon as you open the TikTok app, you can start scrolling through videos right away without entering any credentials (TikTok Help Center). This makes sampling content on TikTok frictionless and convenient.
With guest browsing, you can get a feel for what kind of videos are popular on TikTok before deciding if you want to create an account. It’s a great way to try out the app and experience the content without any commitment (Slashgear). You don’t have to go through the sign up process or remember login details in order to scroll through fun videos. Overall, browsing as a guest on TikTok allows easy access to content without needing to create an account right away.
Cons of Guest Browsing
While browsing TikTok as a guest has its benefits, there are some drawbacks to consider as well. The main cons of browsing TikTok without an account include:
Limited capabilities – Guests have restricted functionality on TikTok. They can watch videos and scroll the For You feed, but can’t like, comment, share, or post content. Guests also can’t follow creators or join in hashtag challenges.
Miss personalized recommendations – TikTok’s algorithm learns your interests over time and customizes the videos it shows you. As a guest, you don’t get this tailored experience. You may see more random or irrelevant content.
Can’t engage with creators or content – Part of what makes TikTok fun is interacting with creators and fellow fans. Without an account, guests can’t like, comment, or otherwise connect. This removes a key social element.
As Vice reports, “logging in…unlocks the full breadth of features available on the app” (source). While browsing without an account has benefits, registering provides a richer, more personalized TikTok experience.
