TikTok analytics provide detailed data and insights into the performance of videos posted to the platform. For TikTok creators, having access to analytics can be invaluable for understanding their audience, optimizing content, and tracking growth over time. However, while creator accounts on TikTok are given access to an analytics dashboard, regular personal accounts currently do not have analytics enabled.
This distinction between personal and creator accounts is important. Creator accounts are intended for users looking to establish themselves professionally on TikTok, while personal accounts are for casual users. TikTok analytics – including views, likes, comments, shares, etc. – are only available to creator accounts as a tool to support their content strategy and business goals. Regular users without a creator account only have access to basic metrics like view counts displayed under their videos.
The lack of analytics for personal profiles has led some TikTok users to call for expanded metrics, arguing it’s unfair to limit data only to larger, verified creators. However, TikTok maintains this divide as a way to differentiate the platform experience and encourage aspiring creators to apply for and grow a professional account.
Do Personal Accounts Get Analytics?
Currently, only TikTok creator accounts have access to in-app analytics. Personal accounts, even those belonging to popular creators with millions of followers, do not have analytics available within the TikTok app itself.
According to TikTok’s own support page, analytics are only provided to “accounts that meet certain eligibility requirements” such as having at least 10,000 followers. Regular personal accounts without a creator designation do not qualify for the built-in analytics, regardless of their number of followers or video views.
This means that the average TikTok user with a personal profile is unable to view detailed performance data on their videos and account growth within the app. TikTok reserves those insights for vetted creator accounts, leaving personal profiles without analytics access.
What Analytics Can TikTok Creator Accounts Access?
TikTok creator accounts have access to a wider range of analytics compared to personal accounts. The key analytics available include:
– Views – The number of times a video has been viewed.
– Likes – How many users have liked the video.
– Comments – The total comments a video has received.
– Shares – How many times the video has been shared by users.
– Audience Demographics – Provides data on follower demographics like age, gender, geography, device used, etc. Source
– Play Time – Shows how long viewers have watched your videos.
– Traffic Sources – Where views are coming from – Hashtags, Profile Visits, FYP page, etc.
– Top Videos – Shows best performing videos.
These metrics allow creators to analyze performance, identify trends, optimize content, and gain valuable audience insights. With consumer data, they can tailor videos and marketing towards their target demographic on TikTok.
Why Analytics Aren’t Available for All
TikTok has stated that the main reason all personal accounts don’t have access to in-depth analytics is to limit data collection from users, especially younger users. As a platform with a very young userbase, with over 30% of users between the ages of 10 and 19 [1], TikTok aims to protect these young users’ privacy by restricting analytics access.
TikTok has faced scrutiny in the past over violations of children’s privacy laws, including a $5.7 million fine in 2019 for illegally collecting personal information from kids under 13. Restricting analytics access, especially for younger users, allows TikTok to limit its data collection and avoid further privacy violations.
Additionally, reduced analytics access helps create a more level playing field between amateur creators and professional influencers. With limited objective data, creators must rely more on engagement and originality rather than chasing algorithms and analytics to gain followers.
Third-Party Analytics Options
Because TikTok’s native analytics are limited for regular users, many rely on third-party analytics tools to gain more insight into their content’s performance. Services like Keyhole, SocialInsider, and Popsters provide users with much more robust analytics than what TikTok offers, including engagement metrics, growth tracking, competitor benchmarking, and more. These tools give creators and brands the ability to make data-driven decisions about their TikTok strategy when the platform’s built-in analytics come up short.
The main advantage of using a third-party analytics service is the wealth of metrics provided beyond just views or likes. Users can analyze performance by video, hashtag, geography, traffic sources, followers gained/lost, watch time, and more. The level of detail can help identify high-performing content to replicate as well as areas needing improvement. Additionally, TikTok analytics tools present data visually through charts and graphs for easy interpretation and benchmarking.
While TikTok analytics from third-parties do not contain private data from a user’s account, they provide valuable supplemental analytics to optimize and grow a TikTok presence more effectively.
Discussion of Proprietary Metrics
TikTok uses its own proprietary metrics and algorithms to track content performance that can differ substantially from third-party analytics. This is because TikTok has access to data and insights not available externally. As explained in TikTok’s help article, the platform’s internal systems account for all views, including those that third-parties can’t track. TikTok also applies filters to remove spam, bots, and other invalid traffic when assessing content reach. Additionally, the ranking and recommendation algorithms that determine which videos get shown to users are opaque externally. Thus, third-party estimates may not fully reflect a video’s actual authority and relevance within TikTok’s systems. While third-party tools provide valuable supplemental data, TikTok’s proprietary metrics offer a more authoritative and comprehensive view of true performance.
How Regular Users Can Estimate Popularity
While TikTok analytics are limited for personal accounts, users can still get a sense of how their content is performing in a few ways:
Monitor view count – Pay attention to the number of views each video receives. Sudden spikes or drops may indicate changing popularity.
Check likes and comments – Frequent likes and comments, especially from new users, suggest a video is resonating.
Use third-party services – Sites like Sprout Social let you input a username to get basic metrics.
Track followers – Gaining followers rapidly could signal increasing reach. Losing followers may indicate decreasing interest.
Save your own data – Manually record metrics over time to calculate growth rates and spot trends.
While imprecise, these methods help personal accounts gauge reception and optimize content without built-in analytics.
Calls for Expanded TikTok Analytics
Many TikTok creators and users have expressed frustration over the limited analytics available to regular accounts. This has led some to start petitions and social media campaigns asking TikTok to provide more insights to more users.
A popular Change.org petition calls for TikTok to create an analytics feature accessible to all users over age 13, not just those with creator accounts. The petition argues expanded analytics would allow more people to understand their audience and improve their content. As of writing, it has over 75,000 signatures. [1]
The hashtag #TikTokGiveUsAnalytics has also gained traction, with creators and fans tweeting at TikTok to provide analytics to more accounts. They argue it will level the playing field and help diverse voices stand out. Some cite the democratizing effect more data could have.
While TikTok has not changed its analytics policies in response, the campaigns show many want more insights into their performance. The petitions suggest wider analytics access could empower more users and allow them to better serve their audience.
TikTok’s Responses
TikTok has acknowledged creator calls to provide more robust analytics and insights. In response, TikTok has pointed to their TikTok Analytics Joint Controller Addendum, which outlines what analytics they provide to certain business accounts. However, TikTok has remained firm on restricting analytics for regular personal accounts due to “privacy and security reasons” according to a TikTok spokesperson.
When individual users have submitted requests for their account data including analytics, TikTok has simply provided the limited data personal accounts have direct access to. TikTok maintains that personal accounts do not have access to the type of in-depth analytics available to content creators and businesses. While some users have expressed frustration, TikTok has reiterated their data access policies and maintained strict control over analytics data.
Future Outlook
When it comes to expanding access to analytics beyond Creator accounts, TikTok seems to be taking a cautious approach. While some users and marketers continue to call for more robust analytics, TikTok has not made any definitive commitments. The company likely wants to balance user privacy concerns with providing helpful insights.
Some factors that may influence TikTok’s decision include:
- Protecting user privacy – Broader analytics could reveal information TikTok wants to keep private.
- Limiting competitiveness – Universal access to detailed analytics could make the platform more competitive.
- Maintaining exclusivity – Analytics remain an incentive for users to become Creators.
- Providing value to brands – Expanded analytics would aid sponsors and advertisers.
- Responding to user demands – Calls for more insights have been growing.
In the future, TikTok may meet users halfway by offering some limited analytics to regular accounts. But full-fledged analytics are likely to stay exclusive to Creators unless public pressure mounts substantially.
