TikTok is one of the fastest growing social media platforms, with over 1 billion monthly active users as of September 2021 (source). The app allows users to create and share short videos, and its popularity has skyrocketed among younger demographics. However, to create an account on TikTok, users are required to provide a phone number or email address during signup.
Recently, some TikTok users have expressed interest in creating accounts without providing this personal information. Their reasons may include privacy concerns, not having a phone number or email they want to use, or wanting to create fake accounts. This raises the question – is it possible to make a TikTok account without inputting phone or email information? Understanding the workarounds and risks involved can help assess if it’s feasible.
TikTok Account Basics
To create a standard TikTok account, users are required to provide either a phone number or email address during signup. This is stated in TikTok’s account creation policies: “To setup a TikTok account: 1. Download TikTok from Google Play or the App Store. 2. Open the app. 3. Tap Profile in the bottom right. 4. Choose a method to sign up, either phone/email address or social account” (https://support.tiktok.com/en/getting-started/creating-an-account). Without providing one of these pieces of personal information, the signup process cannot be completed under normal circumstances.
TikTok states they require this identifying information to “make sure each person has a unique, personalized experience” and for account security purposes (https://support.tiktok.com/en/getting-started/creating-an-account). Essentially, a phone number or email is mandatory for setting up a standard TikTok account through official channels.
Why Some Want to Avoid Phone/Email Signup
There are several reasons why some people may want to avoid using a phone number or email for signing up for a TikTok account, including:
Privacy concerns – Many don’t feel comfortable providing personal contact information to social media platforms. There is a risk of data breaches and potential spam or phishing. As stated by this source, cell phone numbers can put you at risk for identity theft or scams if misused.
Underage users – TikTok’s terms of service require users to be at least 13 years old. Those under 13 may try to bypass the phone/email requirement to appear old enough to sign up.
Multiple accounts – Some users create multiple accounts for different purposes and prefer not to link them to their personal contact info. As this article notes, some dislike providing a phone number due to the potential for marketing calls or texts.
Making a TikTok Account Without Phone/Email
While TikTok requires a phone number or email address to sign up for an account, there are some workarounds that allow you to bypass these requirements:
One option is to use a secondary phone number that is not tied to your primary smartphone. You can get throwaway numbers through apps like TextNow or Burner. This gives you a valid phone number to sign up with, while keeping your real number private.
Alternatively, you could borrow a friend or family member’s phone number to register your TikTok account, with their permission. Just make sure to switch the number off the account after initial setup to avoid issues.
There are also email alias services like AnonAddy and SimpleLogin that generate disposable email addresses. You can use these addresses when creating a TikTok account to avoid exposing your real email.
Some users have also reported bypassing the phone/email requirements by taking advantage of bugs when registering through third-party login options. However, this does not work consistently.
Using a Secondary Phone Number
One way to create a TikTok account without using your primary phone number is to get a temporary or virtual phone number. Services like RingCentral and Google Voice allow you to get a secondary phone number that can receive texts or calls.
The main benefit of using a virtual phone number is that it keeps your real number private. You don’t have to give out your personal cell phone number to create social media accounts. The virtual number also gives you more control – if you start getting unwanted calls or texts, you can simply discard the virtual number.
However, there are some downsides. Getting a virtual phone number often requires providing some type of identification. The features may also be limited compared to a real cell phone number. Some services charge fees per text or call received. And using a temporary number may violate platform policies against fake accounts.
Using Someone Else’s Phone Number
Some users attempt to create a TikTok account by using someone else’s phone number without their permission. This raises some risks and ethical concerns:
First, you need explicit permission from the phone number owner to use their number. Using someone’s phone number without asking is unethical and could lead to issues down the line [1].
Second, the account could be reclaimed by the true owner at any time. If they request a login code sent to their number, they can take control of the account. You run the risk of losing access [2].
Finally, using someone else’s number violates TikTok’s Terms of Service. It could potentially lead to the account being banned if discovered [3]. Overall, this method involves ethical risks and is not recommended.
Using Email Alias Services
One way to make a TikTok account without providing your real phone number or email is by using a disposable or temporary email address from an email alias service. These services allow you to generate a temporary, anonymous email address that can receive emails for a short period of time before being deactivated automatically.
Some popular disposable email services include Temp Mail, Mailmodo, and ProPrivacy. These sites let you create a temporary email inbox that you can use to register accounts online without revealing your real email address. The temporary email usually expires after 10 minutes or so.
To use this method, simply go to one of the disposable email sites, generate a temporary email address, and then use that email when signing up for your TikTok account. You’ll be able to receive the confirmation code TikTok sends to complete the signup process. Just make sure to check the disposable inbox quickly to get the code before it disappears.
The main downside is that you won’t have permanent access to that TikTok account since the email address is temporary. But it does work to initially create an anonymous TikTok profile without providing any personal information.
Bypassing Requirements with Bugs
Some users try to exploit bugs or loopholes in TikTok’s signup process to create accounts without providing a valid phone number or email. However, this is not recommended for several reasons:
TikTok actively monitors for vulnerabilities and fixes them quickly. Any workaround is likely to be short-lived before TikTok patches the bug. As TikTok states in their vulnerability reporting policy, they aim to “quickly identify, triage, validate and resolve security issues.”
Attempting to exploit TikTok could be considered breaching their terms of service. Section 4 states users may not “reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, decipher or otherwise attempt to derive the source code” for any TikTok technology. Accounts created through bugs could potentially be banned.
Fake or bot accounts harm the TikTok community. As TikTok explains, “inauthentic activity degrades the TikTok experience for real people.” Bypassing signup protects the integrity of the platform.
In general, looking for loopholes is not the best approach. TikTok aims to provide a secure and trustworthy platform. It’s better to follow their policies and provide accurate identity details.
Policies on Fake Accounts
TikTok has strict policies against fake, fraudulent, and misleading accounts according to their Community Guidelines. Accounts are expected to provide accurate information and represent real identities. Impersonation accounts or other fake profiles can be reported directly within the app and may result in account deletion.
According to TikTok’s Community Guidelines Enforcement Report, over 22 million accounts were removed in 2021 for violating policies on spam, fake engagements, and impersonation. TikTok aims to build an authentic community and will act on user reports of impersonation or fraudulent accounts.
If you believe an account is fake, you can report it to TikTok directly through in-app reporting. Providing details on why the account is fake will help TikTok investigate. Violations of their authenticity policies often result in account deletion.
Conclusion
In summary, it is possible to create a TikTok account without using your personal phone number or email address. Some people wish to maintain privacy and anonymity on the platform, while others may want to create fake or spam accounts.
The main methods involve using a secondary prepaid phone number, borrowing someone else’s number, or using disposable email addresses from alias services. There are also bugs and workarounds that allow bypassing the normal sign-up process. However, TikTok’s terms prohibit creating fake accounts, so there are risks involved.
The pros of making an account without providing your personal information are increased privacy and the ability to create spam or parody accounts. However, the cons are that it violates TikTok’s rules and could result in account suspension if discovered. There are also less options for account recovery.
In the end, while it is possible to bypass the phone and email requirements, most users will be better served by providing accurate contact information for full access to TikTok’s services. The choice depends on your priorities and intended use of the platform.
