TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion monthly active users as of 2021 (Source). The app allows users to create and share short videos, often set to music. Part of TikTok’s appeal is the ability to express creativity and connect with an audience.
However, some users prefer keeping their identity anonymous on social platforms. There are various reasons for wanting anonymity, such as privacy concerns, separating personal and professional accounts, or feeling more comfortable not sharing identifying details. TikTok does allow creating anonymous accounts to some extent. This overview will discuss the possibilities and limitations around anonymity on TikTok.
Why Have an Anonymous Account?
One of the main reasons people create anonymous TikTok accounts is to share content without revealing their real identity. With an anonymous account, users can post videos and engage with the TikTok community while keeping their personal information private (Quora, [1]). This allows people to express themselves more freely without worrying about who might see their content.
Some specific reasons users cite for wanting anonymity on TikTok include (Quora, [1]):
- Separating professional and personal lives, so co-workers or employers can’t find your personal account
- Avoiding unwanted attention or harassment from strangers who find your account
- Speaking openly about sensitive topics like mental health issues or politics
- Creatively roleplaying or experimenting with an alter ego character
Overall, anonymous accounts give users more control over their privacy and freedom to post content tailored to different audiences. The ability to keep personal and professional lives separate is a major motivation for many anonymous TikTok users.
Setting Up an Account
Setting up a TikTok account is quick and easy. You have a few options for registering an account:
Email – You can sign up with your email address by entering it and choosing a password when prompted. This will allow you to log in with your email and password going forward (TikTok Help Center).
Phone Number – You can use your phone number to register. TikTok will send a confirmation code to your phone that you’ll need to enter to complete sign up. Using a phone number will allow you to log in with your phone number and a password (WikiHow).
Username – You’ll also need to create a unique username for your account during sign up. This is the name that will identify you on TikTok and be displayed on your profile and with your videos. Choose something memorable! Usernames cannot be changed once your account is created (Metricool).
Hiding Personal Details
There are several ways to hide your personal information on TikTok and maintain anonymity.
Go to your profile page and tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner. Select “Privacy”, then toggle the “Private Account” option to hide your follower count, likes, videos, and anything else you want to keep private (TikTok Support). You can also choose who can comment on your videos.
In settings, turn off the options for “Suggest your account to others” and “Allow others to find me” to avoid appearing in search results or recommendations. Disable comments on your videos if you don’t want engagement tied to your account.
Be careful about revealing identifying details in your bio, username, profile photo, or content. Consider using a generic avatar and no real name. Also turn off the option to link to other social media from your profile (TikTok Newsroom).
Metadata like location, device details, and account history can also give you away. Using a VPN helps hide some of that. Overall, be vigilant about any personal information tied to your anonymous account.
Using a VPN
One way to help maintain anonymity on TikTok is by using a VPN (virtual private network). A VPN routes your internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel to a server in a different location. This hides your real IP address, making it harder for TikTok to identify you.
When you use TikTok without a VPN, the app can see your IP address and location. This provides data that can potentially identify you. By routing your traffic through a VPN server in a different city or country, TikTok will only see the IP address of the VPN server, not your true IP address. According to VPNmentor, a top VPN will prevent TikTok from accessing sensitive information like your IP address and location.
Some of the best VPNs for maintaining anonymity on TikTok include NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark. These providers offer fast connection speeds, which is important for using TikTok smoothly. They also have extensive server networks, allowing you to choose a server location that maximizes anonymity.
Avoiding Facial Recognition
One way to increase anonymity on TikTok is to avoid facial recognition. According to TechCrunch, TikTok claims they do not collect users’ biometric data like facial recognition, despite contradictory language in their privacy policy [1]. However, there are still steps users can take to obscure their identity:
Use filters or effects that alter, obscure, or blur facial features. TikTok’s wide selection of filters can make it difficult for facial recognition technology to identify you [2]. Avoid using your actual unaltered face in videos.
Angle the camera away from your face or use obscuring effects like virtual masks. Do not look directly at the camera. The less of your facial features that are clearly visible, the harder it is for software to analyze and identify you.
Stick to partial or obscured views of your face. Showing small sections of your face, extreme closeups of features, or always wearing large sunglasses can also help prevent facial recognition.
Maintaining Separate Accounts
One way to maintain anonymity on TikTok is by keeping your personal and anonymous accounts completely separate. It’s best practice to use different emails, phone numbers, usernames, passwords and devices for each account. This ensures there is no traceable connection between the accounts that could reveal your identity behind an anonymous profile. According to Remote Tools, you can have up to 3 accounts on one device. So you could have your personal account on your phone, and 1-2 anonymous accounts that you manage on the same device. Just be sure to logout fully each time you switch between accounts.
The key is keeping all account details distinct between your personal and anonymous profiles. As Mashable recommends, set up and remember separate emails, strong passwords, usernames and devices for each account. Never post the same content to both accounts. Avoid linking accounts or having any crossover in followers. With strict separation, your anonymous account remains anonymous and separate from your real identity.
Being Careful With Content
When creating content on an anonymous TikTok account, it’s important to be careful not to share any identifiable details. According to TikTok’s account safety guidelines, you should avoid posting content that reveals your real name, phone number, email, address, workplace, or school. Sharing personal stories, inside jokes or niche interests could also inadvertently identify you to people who know you in real life.
To keep your account fully anonymous, stick to general topics that don’t reveal details about your personal life. Be thoughtful about what you film and where – make sure there are no recognizable landmarks, street signs, name badges or other identifying details in the background. Also be cautious when duetting or stitching other users’ content, as this could associate your account with your main one. Maintaining complete anonymity requires vigilance, but is important for privacy.
Following Safety Best Practices
When using TikTok, it’s important to follow safety best practices to protect your privacy and security. Here are some tips:
Be sure to use TikTok’s reporting and blocking features to maintain control over your account. If you see inappropriate content or experience harassment, tap the share icon and select “report.” You can block other users by going to their profile page and tapping the three dots icon next to “follow.”
Protect your privacy by keeping personal information private. Don’t share identifiable details like your full name, exact location, school, or date of birth. Also be cautious about showing your surroundings as they may give away your location.
TikTok allows you to control privacy settings for individual videos as well as your entire account. Set your account to “private” so only approved followers can view your content. For individual videos, disable comments, duets, stitches, and downloads for full control.
Consider not connecting other social media accounts to your anonymous TikTok profile as this could reveal your identity. And never link your phone number or email.
Stick to these tips and best practices to maximize safety and anonymity on TikTok.
Sources:
https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-gb/tiktok-safety-tips
https://www.tiktok.com/creators/creator-portal/en-us/community-guidelines-and-safety/safety-tips/
Conclusion
In summary, it is possible to have an anonymous TikTok account if you take the proper precautions. When setting up the account, avoid using any personal details and enable maximum privacy settings. Make sure not to show your face or any identifiable surroundings. Using a VPN and separate device can also help preserve anonymity. Follow all of TikTok’s community guidelines, even if anonymous, and be careful about what content you post. Maintaining separate accounts for anonymous and personal use is wise. While not completely foolproof, these tips can help you stay anonymous and safe on TikTok if that is your goal. Just remember to use good judgment with what you share.
As a final tip, periodically re-checking your privacy settings and limiting sharing of identifiable details will help preserve anonymity. Be cautious and think twice before posting revealing content. An anonymous account still requires responsible usage. But with proper precautions, you can securely use TikTok without attaching your identity.
