TikTok is a popular social media platform that allows users to create and share short videos. One of the features on TikTok is the ability to set videos to either private or public. Private videos can only be viewed by the creator, while public videos are viewable by all TikTok users.
When a video is first uploaded to TikTok, the default setting is private. Users have the option to change a video from private to public at any time. There are a few reasons why someone may want to change a private video to be public, which this article will explore in more detail.
What Does Private vs Public Mean on TikTok?
On TikTok, there are two main video privacy settings – private and public:
Private videos can only be viewed by the creator of the video. Other TikTok users cannot find or view private videos on someone else’s profile. Private videos offer the highest level of privacy and control on TikTok.
Public videos, as the name suggests, can be viewed by anyone on TikTok. Public videos are completely visible on a user’s profile for anyone to watch. Public videos have the widest audience reach on TikTok.
The key difference is private videos are restricted to be seen only by the original poster, while public videos are available for the whole TikTok community to view. Users can choose which setting they prefer video-by-video.
TikTok also allows users to set their entire account as private or public. Private accounts only permit approved followers to see posted content. Public accounts let anyone watch all of their videos right away.
In summary, private controls visibility at the individual video level and broader account level. Public opens all videos to everyone by default. The choice allows flexibility in sharing content (source).
Why Would You Want to Change a Video from Private to Public?
There are a few key reasons you may want to change a TikTok video from private to public viewing:
Reach a wider audience. Making a video public allows it to be viewed by all TikTok users, rather than just your followers. This significantly expands the potential viewership. Going public gives your content a chance to be discovered through hashtags, the For You feed, and other discovery features in the app. Your public videos have a chance to gain more attention and go viral.
Build your following. A video switched to public can attract new followers who stumble across it. This helps grow your audience. By making selected videos public, you give new users a taste of your content while maintaining some exclusivity.
Promote your account. Public videos are another channel to get your TikTok handle and account in front of more people. The expanded reach can drive growth.
Get discovered by brands/sponsors. Brands and potential sponsors scout TikTok for creators to partner with. Making a video public gives it a chance to appear on their radar through hashtags or the For You Page. This opens opportunities.
How to Change a TikTok Video from Private to Public
Changing a TikTok video from private to public is easy to do directly within the TikTok app. Here are the step-by-step instructions:
- Open the TikTok app on your mobile device.
- Go to your profile and tap on the “Videos” tab to see a list of your posts.
- Tap on the video you want to change from private to public.
- Tap on the three dots in the bottom right corner to open the menu.
- Select “Privacy settings” from the menu.
- Toggle the privacy setting from “Private” to “Public”.
- Tap “Confirm” to save the new public privacy setting.
Once you confirm the change, your video will now be visible to all TikTok users rather than just your followers. The process is quick and easy to do right within the TikTok app. Changing a video to public can help expand your audience and get more engagement on older posts.
Source: https://support.tiktok.com/en/account-and-privacy/account-privacy-settings/video-visibility
Considerations Before Making a Video Public
When deciding whether to change a TikTok video from private to public, it’s important to think through the implications fully first. Here are some key considerations:
You will lose control of who sees your video once it’s made public. While a private video is only visible to you and users you directly share it with, a public video can be viewed by anyone on TikTok. Millions of people could potentially see your video, depending on how viral it goes. This can lead to embarrassment if the content is sensitive or personal in nature.
According to security.org, privacy risks are one downside of TikTok. When you post publicly, you are giving up privacy and opening yourself up to unknown audiences viewing your content. Consider whether you’ll regret making something public later.
Public videos also cannot easily be made private again. Once you change the privacy setting to public, that video will remain public and can continue spreading online. So only make something public if you are comfortable with it remaining public indefinitely.
Tips for Managing Your TikTok Privacy
Here are some tips to help you control your privacy and security on TikTok:
- Use separate accounts for different audiences – Create a private account just for close friends and family, and a public one for a wider audience.
- Customize your privacy settings – Adjust who can view your content, message you, and add you as a friend under “Privacy and safety” in your settings.
- Limit your audience – Set your account to private so you have to approve anyone who wants to follow you.
- Be selective with your content – Don’t share anything you wouldn’t want the public to see.
- Block unwanted interactions – Block or delete comments from specific users, turn off comments on certain videos, and block users from interacting with your account.
- Disable location services – Turn off location sharing for your videos in your device settings.
- Turn off “Suggest your account to others” – Disable this in settings so TikTok won’t suggest your account to other users.
- Clear your watch and search history – Go to settings > Clear cache to delete your viewing history.
Staying on top of your privacy settings and being mindful of what you share is key to maintaining control over your TikTok presence. Refer to TikTok’s privacy policy for more details on managing your privacy.
What Happens When You Change a Video to Public?
When you change a TikTok video from private to public, there are a couple of key things that happen:
First, the video now appears on your public profile and is visible to all users who visit your profile page. Whereas private videos can only be seen by you, a public video will be viewable by anyone on TikTok.
Second, making a video public means it can now show up on the For You page and be recommended to other users. The For You page is the main feed that shows a mix of videos based on users’ interests and engagement. By making your video public, it becomes eligible to be pushed out to a wide range of viewers beyond just your own followers.
So in summary, setting a video to public opens it up to be seen by the general TikTok audience both through your profile and the For You recommendations. This allows your content to reach more people but also means you lose control over who can watch it.
Can You Change a Video Back to Private After Making Public?
Yes, you can change a TikTok video back to private after making it public. According to TikTok’s help article, you can update the privacy settings on any video you’ve posted at any time (1).
To change a public video back to private on TikTok:
- Open the TikTok app and go to your profile page.
- Tap on the video you want to change back to private. This will open the video page.
- Tap the ‘Share’ icon below the video.
- Tap ‘Who can view this video’.
- Select ‘Private’ to change the video back to private.
Once you set the video to private, it will no longer be visible to the public or in searches. Only you will be able to view it. So yes, you have the flexibility to revert a public TikTok video back to private if you change your mind or want to limit its visibility again.
(1) https://support.tiktok.com/en/account-and-privacy/account-privacy-settings/video-visibility
Pros and Cons of Private vs Public Videos
Changing a video from private to public opens it up to new opportunities, but also potential risks. Here is a summary of the key tradeoffs:
Pros of Public Videos
- Increased visibility – public videos can be seen by all TikTok users and potentially go viral.
- Easier sharing – public videos can be shared more easily via links and embeds.
- Metrics tracking – you can view detailed analytics on views, likes, comments for public videos.
- Monetization opportunities – public videos are eligible for the TikTok Creator Fund and sponsorships.
Cons of Public Videos
- Loss of privacy – anyone can see, share and download your public videos.
- Harassment risks – public videos may attract negative comments or inappropriate behavior.
- Account safety – losing control of a video going viral could lead to unwanted attention.
- Permanence – once public, a video is difficult to make private again.
The choice between private and public depends on your priorities for sharing versus controlling access. Evaluate your comfort level and intentions before publishing videos more widely.
Conclusion
In summary, you can change a TikTok video from private to public at any time through the app’s editing options. You simply select the video, tap the sharing settings, and change the privacy setting from “Private” to “Public.” However, it’s important to consider who may see the video and if you’re comfortable sharing it more widely before making this change. The public setting exposes your content to anyone on TikTok whereas private limits viewership.
There are benefits to both private and public videos on TikTok. Private allows you to share videos just with close friends if you prefer while public enables your content to be discovered more widely. You can also change a video back to private after making it public, though it’s impossible to limit who may have seen it during the public period. Overall, be thoughtful about your privacy and sharing preferences when publishing TikTok videos.
