TikTok is a popular social media app that allows users to create and share short videos. It was launched in 2016 by ByteDance and has grown rapidly, with over 1 billion monthly active users as of 2021 (source). Key features of TikTok include its For You feed algorithm, duet and stitch video tools, and a variety of filters and effects.
One common question TikTok users have is whether the app notifies their followers when they post new videos. In this article, we will provide an overview of TikTok’s default notification settings and options for customizing notifications. We will also look at features like live notifications and the algorithm’s impact on reach. By the end, you will understand how TikTok notifications work and strategies to help maximize the visibility of your content.
Notifications Overview
TikTok offers several types of notifications to help users stay updated on activity happening within the app. There are three main notification delivery methods on TikTok:
- Push notifications – These are notifications that pop up on a user’s device even when TikTok isn’t open. Push notifications can alert users to new likes, comments, messages, and more.
- In-app notifications – These notifications appear within the TikTok app. They show up in the notifications tab and activity feed.
- Email notifications – Users can choose to receive email updates about certain TikTok activity.
Some of the most common notification types on TikTok include likes, comments, mentions, new followers, direct messages, and new videos from creators you follow (different types of notifications). Understanding the different notification options can help users customize their settings.
Default Notification Settings
TikTok’s default notification settings enable push notifications for new followers by default. When someone new follows you on TikTok, you’ll receive a push notification on your device informing you of the new follower. This allows you to stay updated on your growing follower count in real-time without having to constantly check the app.
In addition to new follower notifications being on by default, TikTok also automatically enables push notifications for direct messages. Any time someone sends you a direct message, you’ll receive an alert letting you know you have a new message. This makes it easy to have conversations and stay engaged with your followers.
Besides followers and messages, most other notifications are turned off by default on TikTok. This includes likes, comments, mentions, and shares on your videos. You’ll need to manually enable push notifications for these other activities if you want to receive alerts when they happen. Overall, TikTok aims to only send the most relevant notifications by default to prevent notification fatigue.
Source: https://support.tiktok.com/en/using-tiktok/messaging-and-notifications/notifications
Customizing Notifications
TikTok allows users to customize their notification settings so they only receive alerts for the content they care about. Users can control notifications at both the app level and for specific accounts they follow.
To customize notifications, go to your profile icon > Settings > Notifications. Here you can toggle notifications on or off for the following:
- Push Notifications – Enable/disable notifications that appear on your device’s lock screen.
- In-App Notifications – Control which notifications appear when you open the TikTok app.
- Email Notifications – Choose which notifications, if any, you want to receive via email.
You can also customize notifications for individual accounts you follow. Go to that user’s profile and toggle on/off “Notifications” to control if you receive alerts when they post new videos. This grants more granular control over the notifications you receive.
Customizing your notification settings is crucial for curating the alerts you get from TikTok. Turn off notifications you find irrelevant or distracting. This ensures you only receive updates about content and accounts you truly care about. For more details, see the TikTok support page on managing notifications (source).
Live Notifications
When you go live on TikTok, the platform sends out notifications to your followers to let them know you’ve started streaming. According to TikTok’s help content, “When you go live, we’ll send notifications to your followers to let them know you’re broadcasting” (source). By default, notifications are enabled for any live streams you start.
Followers can choose to turn on push notifications specifically for when you go live. On the iOS and Android app, they can adjust their settings for “Live Stream Notifications” and toggle notifications on or off for live streams from creators they follow. Enabling this allows them to get notified immediately when a live stream begins, even if they don’t have TikTok open at that moment (source).
Overall, the platform aims to alert followers in real-time when a creator they follow starts broadcasting live. Between default notifications and follower push notifications, TikTok has systems in place to notify an audience when you go live.
Mentions and Comments
One of the key features of TikTok is the ability to interact with other users through mentions and comments. When another user mentions you or comments on your video, you have the option to receive notifications for these interactions.
By default, TikTok will send you push notifications on your device whenever someone mentions you in their video or comments on your video. You’ll see the mention or comment text directly in the push notification. This allows you to stay engaged with your audience and quickly respond to comments.
You can customize your notifications settings for mentions and comments within the TikTok app. In your profile, go to Settings > Notifications > Comments and Mentions. From here, you can toggle notifications on or off for New Comments, Comment Likes, New Mentions, and Mention Likes. Turning off these notifications means you won’t be notified directly when those interactions occur.
Even if you turn off push notifications, you’ll still see mentions and new comments when you open the TikTok app. They just won’t trigger a notification on your device when posted. So you have full control over whether you want to be notified in real-time of interactions or just view them when you check TikTok.
Algorithm Impact
The TikTok algorithm is a complex system that determines which videos get shown to which users. The more a user engages with your content, the more likely the algorithm is to show your future posts to that user. When you post frequently, you give the algorithm more opportunities to show your content to your existing followers as well as potential new followers. According to https://www.actsshipping.com/do-influencers-buy-tiktok-followers/, if the algorithm detects that a video is getting a lot of likes and engagement, it’s more likely to recommend that content to other users.
Follower notifications play an important role in how the algorithm determines which videos to promote. When you post and your followers are notified, they are more likely to watch, like, comment, and share your new content right away. All this immediate engagement signals to the algorithm that your post is resonating with viewers. As a result, TikTok is more likely to put your post in front of a wider audience. Turning off notifications means your followers may take longer to see and engage with your new posts. This delay could prevent your content from getting the initial boost that helps it go viral. Though notifications aren’t the only factor, they do help give your posts the best chance of ranking highly in TikTok’s algorithm.
Posting Strategies
When it comes to posting on TikTok, having a good strategy around frequency and timing is key to maximizing engagement and leveraging notifications. According to research from Later, the best posting frequency on TikTok is 1-2 times per day. This allows you to stay top of mind without overwhelming followers. The best times to post are early mornings and evenings when more users are likely to be on the app. Mornings between 7-9 AM tend to see higher engagement as users scroll through TikTok over their morning coffee. Evenings between 5-7 PM are also popular as people wind down from their day.
You can use notifications strategically as part of your posting approach. When you post multiple times per day, turning on notifications ensures your followers see your new content right away. You can also @mention loyal followers in captions or comments to trigger notifications bringing them back to engage further. Responding to comments and engaging quickly when you post is key. The more you interact, the more TikTok’s algorithm will push your content out via notifications.
Pro tip: Stagger your posts throughout peak times rather than batch posting. This keeps you top of mind all day vs overwhelming followers with back-to-back notifications. Aim for consistent posting daily or every other day to build anticipation.
Other Social Media Comparison
When it comes to notifications, TikTok takes a different approach compared to other major social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat. Here’s a quick overview of how notifications work on other platforms:
Facebook and Instagram allow granular control over notifications settings. Users can choose to receive notifications for specific types of activity, like comments, tags, follows, and mentions. They can also turn notifications on or off for individual profiles and pages. One key difference is that Facebook and Instagram send push notifications to your device, while TikTok notifications require opening the app.
Twitter enables users to receive push notifications for various activities, including new followers, retweets, mentions, and direct messages. Users have some ability to customize notification settings. Similar to TikTok, Twitter also has a “While you were away” feature showing recent notifications.
Snapchat provides notifications for snaps, stories, and chats. By default, push notifications are turned on for all activity. Users can modify some notification settings but customization is more limited compared to other platforms.
Overall, TikTok takes a simplified approach to notifications compared to competitors. The lack of push notifications sets it apart, as users must manually check the app to see notifications. However, TikTok’s “While you were away” feature provides a scrollable feed of recent notifications.
Conclusion
In summary, TikTok has a few different notification settings that determine when and how often your followers are notified of your posts. By default, TikTok will push notifications to followers occasionally when you post new videos. However, users can customize their notification settings and opt into more alerts or disable notifications entirely. Live notifications are always on by default as well. While mentions and comments will also trigger notifications, the unpredictable TikTok algorithm means followers may not always see your content in their feeds. Ultimately, the answer is yes – TikTok does notify your followers when you post, but the frequency and visibility depends on both your settings and your followers’ settings. For best results, employ consistent posting strategies to boost engagement. Compared to sites like Instagram and YouTube, TikTok takes more of an algorithmic, personalized approach to notifications.
