TikTok is a popular short-form video app with over 1 billion monthly active users. However, it has faced scrutiny over data privacy concerns due to its ownership by a Chinese company called ByteDance.
There are worries that TikTok collects large amounts of user data which could be accessed and used by the Chinese government. This has led some countries to ban TikTok over national security concerns. The US government has also considered banning TikTok unless ByteDance sells its US operations to an American company.
Given these data privacy issues, some TikTok users want to export their personal data from the app. This gives them greater control over their information.
Why Export TikTok Data?
There are several key reasons why exporting your TikTok data can be beneficial:
Access your data and memories – Downloading your TikTok data allows you to get a copy of all the videos, messages, captions, hashtags and other content you’ve created on the platform. This serves as a backup that lets you access your memories and creations even if your account is ever deleted or banned (source).
View content offline – Exporting videos lets you save them locally so you can watch without an internet connection. This is useful for times when you have no service or want to view content when offline (source).
Migrate your profile – Downloading your TikTok data can make it easier to transfer your content to another platform or account if desired.
What Data Can You Export?
When you request your TikTok data, you can download a ZIP file containing various types of information from your account. Here are some of the main types of data available:
Videos – The download includes all the videos you have posted on TikTok. You get both the video file and metadata like captions, sounds, hashtags, etc. This allows you to have a copy of your videos if you want to delete them from TikTok. (TikTok Support)
Messages – Your full message history is included in the data download, so you can see conversations with other users. (Mashable)
Profile Info – Basic profile data like your username, bio, profile photo, and account settings is in the download.
Analytics – You can get info on your videos’ views, likes, comments, shares and more. This provides insight into your account performance.
So in summary, by requesting your TikTok data you can get a comprehensive look at your videos, messaging, profile details, and analytics.
How to Export Data
Here is a step-by-step process for requesting your TikTok data to be exported:
1. Open the TikTok app and tap on your profile icon in the bottom right corner.
2. Tap on the three horizontal lines menu icon in the top right corner to open the menu.
3. Scroll down and tap on “Settings and privacy.”
4. Tap on “Data privacy.”
5. Tap on “Download your data.”
6. Tap on “Request data” at the top.
7. Enter your email address and tap “Next.”
8. Enter your phone number for verification and tap “Next.”
9. Select the types of data you want to export such as likes, comments, search history, etc.
10. Tap “Submit request.”
TikTok will then prepare an export of your data and email you when it is ready to download within 3-4 days typically. The download link expires after 2 days, so make sure to download your data promptly once received. The data will be in JSON format.
For step-by-step visual guidance, check out this article: How to download your TikTok data to try it for yourself
Data Format
When you request to download your TikTok data, it is provided in a JSON file format. JSON stands for JavaScript Object Notation and is a common file format used for transmitting data.
The TikTok JSON data file can be opened and viewed in any text editor. However, because it is in JSON format, the raw data will appear structured with nested objects and arrays. To make it more readable, you can use a JSON viewer tool like https://jsonformatter.org to properly format and indent the data. This will organize the information into sections like videos, captions, messages, etc.
To access and view the raw JSON data, simply open the downloaded .json file in a text editor. But for best readability, copy and paste the data into a JSON formatter tool. This will make it easier to parse the information and understand the structure of your exported TikTok data.
Limitations
TikTok does not provide users with access to all of their data. There are some key limitations to be aware of when exporting TikTok data:
You can only export data from the previous 30 days. Any older data will not be included in the export file. As noted in TikTok’s help documentation, “each export will only contain data from the last 30 days” (https://support.tiktok.com/en/account-and-privacy/personalized-ads-and-data/requesting-your-data).
Certain types of data are not available for export at all. This includes data related to direct messages, live streams, and drafts. TikTok’s export only contains a subset of user data.
There are also limits on how frequently you can request an export. Per TikTok’s policies, users are limited to one export request every 30 days.
In summary, TikTok’s data export has significant time period and data type restrictions. Users cannot access a full archive of their TikTok data through the export tool.
Data Privacy
TikTok’s privacy policy has changed frequently over the years as the app has grown in popularity. As of January 2023, TikTok’s privacy policy states that they may collect different types of data from users including:
– User content like videos, comments, and other materials you provide.
– Device data like your IP address, unique device identifiers, browser type, operating system, mobile network information, and device settings.
– Usage data like the features you use, videos viewed, page interactions, date and time of access, and referring web page.
– Location data like precise or approximate location from GPS, Bluetooth, or WiFi signals. TikTok Privacy Policy
TikTok states they collect this data to provide, maintain, improve, and develop the platform. They may share data with vendors, consultants, partners, researchers, and others for business purposes. TikTok also says they may share information with law enforcement agencies, public authorities, or others if legally required.
In 2022, TikTok updated their privacy policy to be more transparent about data collection and use. However, privacy advocates argue the changes don’t go far enough to protect minors’ data or limit data sharing with third parties like ByteDance and advertisers.
Alternatives
There are other tools and methods you can use to save TikTok data without needing to export from the app directly:
Tools like SnapTik, SaveTok, and SSSTikTok allow you to enter a TikTok URL and download the video without a watermark. These services do not require you to login or connect your TikTok account. You simply provide the URL of the specific video you want to save.
You can also try screen recording TikTok videos as you watch them in the app. This captures the video without any watermark. Just be sure not to share or re-upload someone else’s content without permission.
While the TikTok app itself limits exporting options, these alternative tools provide simple workarounds to get watermark-free videos downloaded and saved.
Expert Tips
When exporting your TikTok data, it’s important to be mindful of your privacy. Here are some expert recommendations for using your exported data securely:
Only download your data over a secure internet connection to prevent snooping. Avoid public Wi-Fi networks when initiating the download.
Store the downloaded data securely, ideally in an encrypted format. Do not share the raw data files publicly.
Scrutinize the data to understand what TikTok has captured about you. You may be surprised at the extent of the data collection.
Regularly export and review your data to monitor changes over time. This allows you to keep tabs on how much data TikTok accumulates.
Be selective in sharing any insights from your data with others. Don’t reveal sensitive information publicly.
Consider deleting your account or restricting data collection if you are uncomfortable with the extent of TikTok’s data gathering.
Advocate for stronger data privacy regulations to protect user rights and prevent excessive data collection.
In summary, exporting TikTok data can shed light on your privacy exposure. Take precautions in handling the data, and leverage it to make informed decisions about your use of the platform.
Conclusion
In conclusion, exporting your TikTok data can be a useful way to backup and access your personal information. The process allows you to download a ZIP file containing your profile information, videos, messages, login history, and more. While there are some limitations, like not being able to export private messages, overall it provides a comprehensive way to archive and review your TikTok activity.
The main reasons to export your data include having a backup, accessing old videos that may have been deleted, reviewing your usage for privacy reasons, or migrating your content if leaving the platform. Just keep in mind that the data format requires some work to make use of, and you may want to remove sensitive information before sharing anything publicly.
In summary, exporting TikTok data gives you control over your personal information and activity history on the platform. It’s a useful self-service tool for any regular TikTok user.
