What is TikTok?
TikTok is a popular social media app that allows users to create, watch, and share 15-second videos shot on mobile devices or webcams (Investopedia, 2022). The app is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance and was launched in 2016. Originally released under the name Douyin in China, it was rebranded as TikTok for the international market in 2017.
TikTok has become one of the most widely used social media platforms globally, with over 1 billion monthly active users as of September 2021 (Influencer Marketing Hub, 2022). It allows users to film short videos set to music, edit them with filters and effects, and share them across the app. The platform is best known for popularizing short-form video content focused on viral challenges, lip-syncing, dances, comedy sketches, and more.
Due to its huge popularity among teenagers and young adults, TikTok has become a leading platform for internet culture, trends, and influencer marketing. Major factors driving its success include its algorithmic recommendation system which personalizes content for each user, as well as its tools that make creating engaging videos easy and fun.
Do you need an account to view TikTok videos?
No, you do not need an account to browse and view public videos on TikTok. TikTok allows anyone to access the platform and watch content without logging in or signing up (1). This includes the ability to browse popular videos, hashtags, sounds, creators, and more. TikTok refers to this as “Browse As Guest” mode.
When accessing TikTok on a web browser or the mobile app, you will be presented with a homepage filled with videos. Without being logged in, you are free to scroll through and watch any public videos on the platform. All core TikTok viewing functionality is available without an account, such as liking, commenting, sharing, and navigating between video feeds (2).
The key exception is that you cannot post your own videos or engage with creators without an account. But simply watching and discovering content does not require creating an account or signing in. Essentially, an account is not needed for passive consumption of TikTok videos, memes, trends, and more. TikTok’s public videos provide entertainment to millions of people every day without requiring personal information or logging in.
Do you need an account to post videos on TikTok?
Yes, a TikTok account is required in order to post your own videos on the platform. Without an account, you can browse and view videos posted by others, but you will not have the option to upload your own content.
TikTok does not allow users to post videos without first creating an account. There is no workaround that will let you bypass this requirement. The TikTok app and website both require you to register for an account before giving you access to upload videos from your camera roll or record new videos within the app.
Some key reasons TikTok requires an account for uploading include:
- Allowing users to follow each other and build a community
- Serving personalized recommendations based on viewing history and interests
- Providing creators analytics about their videos and audience
- Enforcing community guidelines and maintaining safety
So if you want to post original videos and join in on the trending challenges, you will need to take the time to create your own TikTok account. The sign-up process only takes a few minutes. Once your account is set up, you’ll gain full access to post and engage with videos on TikTok.
How to create a TikTok account
Creating a TikTok account is a quick and easy process that can be done either on your mobile device through the TikTok app or on a desktop computer by visiting TikTok’s website. Here are the steps to sign up for a new TikTok account:
On mobile:
- Download the TikTok app from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).
- Open the TikTok app and tap the profile icon in the bottom right.
- Tap “Sign up” and enter your email, phone number, username, password, and date of birth.
- TikTok will send a verification code to your phone – enter it to complete signup.
On desktop:
- Go to https://www.tiktok.com/signup in your browser.
- Enter your email, phone number, username, password, and date of birth.
- Click “Sign up” and TikTok will text you a code to verify your phone number.
- Enter the code and finish creating your account.
The main requirements for creating a TikTok account are an email address or phone number, desired username, password, and birthday. TikTok accounts can be created in just a few minutes once you provide this information and pass the verification process.
Types of TikTok Accounts
TikTok offers two main types of accounts – personal accounts and business accounts. Here is an overview of each type:
Personal Accounts
A personal account on TikTok is designed for individual users to post content for fun. With a personal account you can:
- Post videos up to 3 minutes long
- Go live for up to 4 hours at a time
- Follow up to 5,000 other accounts
Personal accounts have access to all basic TikTok features like filters, effects, stickers, etc. This type of account is best if you want to use TikTok casually.
Business Accounts
A business account has some additional features tailored for brands, businesses, creators, and publishers. With a business account you can:
- Post videos up to 10 minutes long
- Go live for up to 6 hours at a time
- Follow up to 10,000 other accounts
- Use analytics and audience insights
- Promote content and run ad campaigns
Business accounts allow for more customization and growth opportunities. This type of account is ideal if you want to establish a professional presence on TikTok.
Key Differences
The main differences between personal and business accounts are the content length limits, live streaming durations, follower limits, and access to analytics/promotions. Business accounts also have more monetization options. In general, business accounts are better for serious, brand-building endeavors.
Finding content without an account
You don’t need to have a TikTok account to find and view a lot of great content on the platform. TikTok makes it easy for guests to discover trending and popular videos. Here are some ways to find viral videos and top content on TikTok without an account:
You can browse hashtags and locations to find videos on topics or places that interest you. Hashtags act like channels, grouping together videos about the same thing. Just type a hashtag into the search bar to see curated videos using that hashtag. Similarly, searching for a city or country will surface popular local videos.
The TikTok Discover page highlights trending videos, popular sounds, and suggested accounts to follow. It’s tailored to you based on the content you’ve been viewing. So even without an account, TikTok will recommend viral videos and top creators.
TikTok also has a Trending search feature that identifies the most popular search terms and videos people are watching right now. It’s a great way to see videos going viral in real time.
With hashtags, locations, Discover, and Trending, you can immerse yourself in all the best TikTok has to offer without even needing an account. You get access to the same content as logged-in users.
Interacting without an account
While you can browse and watch TikTok videos without an account, your ability to interact is limited. Without logging in, you cannot like, share, or comment on videos. These actions require an account in order to track your engagement across the platform. TikTok wants users to create accounts so they can provide personalized recommendations and build a profile of your interests.
Some limited engagement is possible without an account, such as tapping on hashtags or mentions within a video’s caption to explore those topics. But overall, TikTok is designed as an interactive platform where users can easily like, share, and comment as they watch videos. So creating an account is necessary for the full experience. As TikTok’s support page states, browsing without an account allows you to watch videos, but not interact with a creator if you want to.
TikTok App Download
Downloading the TikTok app is free and easy to do on both iOS and Android devices. Here are the steps to download TikTok:
On an iPhone or iPad, open the App Store and search for “TikTok” or click this link to go directly to the TikTok app page: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tiktok/id835599320. Tap “Get” and then “Install” to download and install the app.
On an Android device, open the Google Play Store and search for “TikTok” or click this link to go directly to the TikTok app page: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zhiliaoapp.musically&hl=en_US&gl=US. Tap “Install” to download and install the app.
That’s all there is to it! The TikTok app is free and easy to find in both major app stores. Once installed, open the app and you can start viewing and posting TikTok videos right away.
Creating an account via mobile
The easiest way to create a TikTok account is directly through the iOS or Android app. You can quickly download the app for free from the App Store or Google Play Store. Once you open the TikTok app, you’ll be prompted to either log in with an existing account or sign up for a new account.
To create your new TikTok account on mobile, tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner. You’ll then see options to either log in or sign up. Tap “Sign up now” to begin creating your new account. You can use your email address, phone number, Facebook account, or Apple ID to sign up. The sign up process only takes a few seconds.
Once you enter your information and confirm your account, you’ll need to create a username and password. You can also add a profile photo and bio. And just like that – your new TikTok account is ready to start posting and engaging!
Creating an account on desktop
You can also sign up for a TikTok account directly through the TikTok website, without downloading the mobile app. The process is very similar to signing up on mobile:
1. Go to https://www.tiktok.com/signup in your web browser.
2. Enter your email address or phone number and create a password. You can also use your Google, Facebook, or Apple account to sign up.
3. Add your name, username, and date of birth.
4. Select your account type – personal or business.
5. Review TikTok’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
6. Verify your account via email or SMS verification code.
Once your account is created, you can customize your profile, follow other accounts, like and comment on videos, and start posting your own content – all right from your computer.
