TikTok is a very popular short-form video app from China. It was originally launched in 2016 under the name Douyin , but rebranded to TikTok for international markets. The app allows users to create and share 15-60 second long videos with special effects, filters, and music. TikTok videos are typically lighthearted, fun and authentic allowing users to express themselves creatively.
TikTok has undergone explosive growth since its launch, particularly among young people. As of January 2023, TikTok has over 1 billion monthly active users globally, making it one of the most popular social media platforms in the world (TikTok Statistics & Facts). It’s estimated that over 30% of TikTok’s global user base are aged between 10 and 19 (TikTok User Statistics). In the U.S. alone, TikTok hit over 150 million monthly active users in early 2023. With its huge reach among Generation Z, TikTok has become a pop culture phenomenon and transformed entertainment, music, and marketing.
Searching for TikTok Users
There are a few different ways to search for and find TikTok users on the platform:
You can search by username if you know the exact handle of the user you’re looking for. Just type their username into the search bar at the top of the TikTok app or website and their profile should come up if it exists.
TikTok users also have personalized profile links that can be shared or searched directly. These links are in the format tiktok.com/@username. You can type this full URL into a browser to go directly to someone’s profile page.
The easiest way to search is just by using TikTok’s built-in search feature. Tap the magnifying glass icon in the TikTok app and type in keywords related to the user you’re trying to find. You can search by name, username, or even hashtag or sounds associated with that user. The search will display results related to those keywords.[1]
Overall, TikTok offers robust profile searching and discovery features to help users connect and find each other based on shared interests and content.
TikTok Profile Pages
TikTok profiles display a variety of information about a user that is visible to the public by default. Some of the key elements visible on a TikTok profile page include:
- Username and profile photo
- Bio and profile links
- Number of followers, following, likes, and videos
- Featured and recent videos posted by the user
- “For You” and “Following” feeds showing videos liked by the user
TikTok profiles are designed to showcase a user’s content and engage with their audience. Unless set to private, most of the profile is viewable by any user on the platform without needing to follow or connect with the profile owner.
Users have some ability to customize their profile through their bio text, profile and header photos, and featured videos. But the core structure and visibility of profile information is controlled by TikTok.
Private Profiles
On TikTok, users have the option to make their profiles private. Private profiles are restricted, meaning only approved followers can view the user’s content. Users can set their profile to private by going to their profile page, tapping the menu icon, and selecting “Privacy and safety” then “Private account” (https://support.tiktok.com/en/account-and-privacy/account-privacy-settings/making-your-account-public-or-private).
When a profile is set to private, only followers approved by the user can see their videos, follow them, message them directly, or view the user’s list of followers and who they are following. TikTok users with private accounts can approve or deny follow requests as desired. Their profile information and videos will not show up in searches or be accessible to the general public.
Making an account private allows TikTok users to restrict access and keep their content visible only to people they know and trust. This gives users, especially younger ones, some protection and privacy. However, even with a private profile, users should be cautious about what they share.
Contacting TikTok Users
There are two main ways to contact other users on TikTok – through direct messaging and commenting. Direct messaging allows you to have private conversations with other users. To start a direct message conversation, go to the user’s profile and tap the “Message” button. The user will get a notification that you want to message them. If they accept, you’ll be able to send messages back and forth.
You can also contact TikTok users publicly through comments on their videos. Simply watch a video, tap the comment bar at the bottom, and leave your comment. The user will get a notification and can respond to you directly if they want. Commenting is more public but can be a way to get a TikTok user’s attention.
Overall, TikTok provides flexible messaging and commenting options to connect with other users. Direct messaging allows for private conversations while commenting facilitates public interactions.
Finding Friends on TikTok
There are a couple ways to find friends on TikTok. The easiest is by using your phone contacts. TikTok allows you to find which of your contacts are also using TikTok and easily connect with them. To do this, go to your profile page and tap “Add Friends.” Then tap “Find” next to Contacts and allow TikTok to access your contacts. It will show you any contacts that also have TikTok accounts that you can then follow or message [1].
You can also find friends by searching for their username directly. Just go to the search bar at the top of the app and type in the exact username. Their profile will come up if they have a TikTok account. This allows you to find specific people you know are on TikTok even if they aren’t in your contacts. You can also search usernames on the web version of TikTok at www.tiktok.com.
[1] https://support.tiktok.com/en/using-tiktok/exploring-videos/friends-tab
TikTok Effects of User Discovery
One of the major effects of being able to search for and discover users on TikTok is the platform’s propensity for virality and trending content. When a user’s video goes viral and starts trending, their profile is suddenly exposed to a huge new audience of viewers. This can result in massive growth for a previously unknown creator. TikTok’s algorithm is designed to amplify trending content and push it out to more and more users. Once a video starts gaining traction, the app’s discovery and recommendation features spread it widely. This allows individual users to quickly accumulate millions of views and followers.
Some critics argue the viral nature of TikTok can be problematic, with harmful challenges and misinformation sometimes spreading rapidly through user discovery features. However, it has also allowed diverse creative talent to be discovered by the masses. The app’strending feeds and ability to search by hashtag or sound empower niche creators to reach a larger audience tailored to their interests. Overall, TikTok’s emphasis on discovery has strengthened the impact of viral phenomena, for better or worse.
Controversies
TikTok has faced scrutiny over privacy, safety, and data collection concerns. Critics allege that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, must comply with Chinese laws that compel companies to support and cooperate with intelligence work controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.
In 2022, TikTok admitted that employees had improperly accessed user data to track journalists and monitor what people were saying about the company online (Time). This raised alarms about the potential for surveillance, censorship, and the mishandling of user data.
TikTok collects large amounts of data from users, including browsing data, location information, and device identifiers. There are concerns that this data could be shared with the Chinese government or stolen by hackers (PBS).
While a ban may not solve all data privacy issues, many experts say TikTok’s ownership and operations in China justify extra scrutiny compared to other social media companies (Congressional Research Service).
Parental Controls
One of the main concerns around young users on TikTok is the ability for anyone to discover and interact with them. To address this, TikTok has introduced powerful parental controls that allow parents to restrict features related to account discovery.
The Family Pairing feature lets parents link their TikTok account to their teen’s account. Once linked, parents can restrict certain features like:
- Disabling the ability for others to find their teen’s account through search, usernames, hashtags, or recommendations
- Restricting messaging to only approved friends
- Limiting screen time and restricting access during certain times
These parental controls provide parents with oversight on their teen’s TikTok usage and who can interact with their account. As the TikTok newsroom article highlights, restricting account discovery can give parents peace of mind.
Conclusion
Finding specific users on TikTok has both benefits and risks. On the positive side, discovering new content creators with a large following can open up new interests and entertainment opportunities. Connecting with friends and family on TikTok allows you to see more of their lives and personalities. However, the open discoverability of users also raises privacy concerns. Young users especially should enable parental controls and be cautious about contacting strangers or sharing personal information publicly. Overall, searching for TikTok users can enhance the experience if done responsibly. As with any social media platform, users should balance connecting with others against the need for privacy and safety.
