TikTok has exploded in popularity over the past few years, becoming one of the most used social media platforms globally. However, concerns around TikTok’s data privacy and security practices have also grown. There are ongoing worries that TikTok collects large amounts of user data and shares it with its parent company ByteDance, as well as potentially the Chinese government.
In this article, we’ll explore what data TikTok collects, whether it has access to your email address, how it uses email addresses, and steps you can take to protect your privacy on the platform.
What data does TikTok collect?
When you create a TikTok account, the app collects information like your email address, phone number, username, password, date of birth, and profile photo. TikTok’s privacy policy states they may collect your first and last name, bio, profile, and account images and videos.
TikTok collects extensive data on the content of your videos, messages, comments, and any other information you post. This includes the video and sound recordings, metadata like hashtags, captions, and effects used. It also includes messages, comments, likes, and more.
The app accesses device data like your IP address, device ID, operating system, settings, and browsing history. TikTok can also access your contacts, call logs, and mobile network data like cell tower information.
TikTok collects approximate location information based on your SIM card and IP address. Users can choose to enable location services which gives TikTok even more precise location data. The app may use GPS, Bluetooth, and WiFi connections to determine your location. According to TikTok’s privacy policy, they collect information about nearby devices, WiFi access points, and cell towers.
Does TikTok collect email addresses?
When you first sign up for a TikTok account, you have the option to provide an email address, but it is not required. TikTok allows you to create an account using just a phone number or username instead.
However, there are benefits to adding an email address to your TikTok account. According to TikTok’s support page, providing your email helps improve your TikTok experience. TikTok may use your email to help you log in, reset your password, provide notifications, and for targeted advertising.
You can also link an existing email address to your TikTok account through your settings. This allows you to enable email notifications, reset your password via email if you get locked out, and enhance account security.
So in summary, TikTok gives you the option to provide an email address when you sign up. And you can always add or link an email later if you didn’t initially provide one. But an email is not required to create a TikTok account.
Can you use TikTok without an email?
Yes, it is possible to use TikTok without providing an email address. When signing up for a new account, TikTok allows users to skip entering an email and instead connect using just a phone number or username (https://support.tiktok.com/en/account-and-privacy/personalized-ads-and-data/how-your-phone-number-is-used-on-tiktok).
However, there are some limitations to using TikTok without an email:
- You won’t be able to reset your password if you forget it, since password reset links are sent to the email on file.
- You won’t receive any notification emails from TikTok about new followers, messages, etc.
- Some account features like analytics may be limited without an email on file.
- It may be harder to retrieve a lost or hacked account without an email for account recovery.
So while it’s certainly possible to use TikTok without providing an email, having one on file can make managing your account easier and give you access to additional features. Users without an email will need to be extra careful about remembering login details.
Does TikTok share email addresses?
According to TikTok’s privacy policy, the platform will not share users’ email addresses with third parties without consent.
The privacy policy states that TikTok will access email addresses if users choose to find contacts through their phone contacts list. In this case, TikTok may collect “information such as names, phone numbers, and email addresses.” However, there is no evidence that TikTok actively shares this information.
TikTok does use email addresses internally for notifications, login verification, and account recovery. But the platform claims it does not share personal email addresses with external parties without the user’s permission.
However, some privacy advocates have expressed concerns about TikTok’s data collection practices in general. A 2022 study found TikTok harvested more personal data than other social media platforms. While TikTok may not directly share emails, some experts warn that its parent company ByteDance could access user data.
In summary, TikTok’s official policy states it will not share users’ email addresses with third parties without consent. But broader concerns remain about TikTok’s internal data practices. Users should remain vigilant in protecting their personal information.
Can someone find your email on TikTok?
Your email is not visible to other users on TikTok. When you create a TikTok account, you provide an email address, but this is only used internally by TikTok and is not displayed on your public profile or visible to other users on the platform (1).
Unlike some other social media sites like Facebook, there is no setting or place within the TikTok app to view a user’s email address. Your profile only displays your username, bio, posts, likes etc. There is no way for other TikTok users to find or see your email address within the app (2).
TikTok keeps your email private as part of their privacy policy and does not share or reveal user emails to other members of the TikTok community. So you can rest assured that your email will remain hidden and cannot be accessed by others on TikTok without your permission.
Sources:
(1) https://support.tiktok.com/en/account-and-privacy/personalized-ads-and-data/how-your-phone-number-is-used-on-tiktok
(2) https://www.reddit.com/r/Tiktokhelp/comments/nwaaf4/visible_email/
Protecting your email on TikTok
TikTok does not require you to provide an email address to sign up and use the app. However, if you do link an email during sign up or in your account settings, there are steps you can take to keep it private:
Enable privacy settings – TikTok has robust privacy controls that allow you to limit what information is visible on your profile. You can set your email, phone number, and other contact info to be “Not visible” so it is not displayed publicly.
Be wary of suspicious links – As with any social media platform, be cautious about clicking links sent via direct message that ask you to verify your email or login. These may be phishing attempts to steal your credentials.
Use a secondary/disposable email – If you’re concerned about getting spammed, use an alternate email rather than your primary personal or work email when creating a TikTok account.
Delete your account – You can permanently delete your TikTok account, which will remove all associated data including any linked email address. However, this means you lose access to the account and all of its content.
Overall, enabling TikTok’s privacy settings and being cautious about unsolicited messages and links are the best ways to keep your email address secure if you use it on TikTok.
TikTok Email Notifications
TikTok sends various types of email notifications to users. These include:
- Notifications about new followers, likes, comments, and messages
- Trending hashtags and viral video alerts
- Recommendations for accounts to follow based on your interests
- Weekly recaps of your TikTok activity and engagement
You can control which email notifications you receive in your account settings. On iOS, go to your profile > settings and privacy > manage notifications. On Android, go to your profile > settings and privacy > notifications. From there you can toggle on or off different notification types.
You can also opt out of promotional emails like trends and recommendations by going to your account settings > privacy and safety > promotions and selecting “Off”. On iOS you can disable emails entirely by going to device settings > TikTok > disable.
Overall, TikTok gives users granular control over email notifications. You can target the types of emails you wish to receive or disable them entirely based on your preferences.
Conclusion
In summary, TikTok does not require or collect users’ email addresses during signup. You can use TikTok without ever providing an email. TikTok may have access to emails attached to third-party logins like Facebook or Google, but does not share or display these emails on your profile. While it’s unlikely someone can find your email address through TikTok alone, you can take steps to protect it by using a separate email for TikTok notifications and not linking social media that contains your email. Overall, TikTok does not reveal user emails, but it’s smart to be cautious about what information you provide to any social media platform.
References
Davis, Clare. “Does Tiktok Require an Email Address?” TechJunkie, 20 July 2022, www.techjunkie.com/does-tiktok-require-email-address/. Accessed 27 Feb. 2023.
Griffith, Erin. “Does TikTok Collect Your Email Address?” Techlicious, Techlicious LLC, 18 Aug. 2022, www.techlicious.com/tip/tiktok-collect-email-address/. Accessed 27 Feb. 2023.
“How TikTok Collects Your Data and How to Opt out.” VPNMentor, www.vpnmentor.com/blog/how-tiktok-collects-your-data/. Accessed 27 Feb. 2023.
Klosowski, Thorin. “Does TikTok Need an Email Address to Sign Up?” How-To Geek, How-To Geek, 29 Sept. 2022, www.howtogeek.com/815844/does-tiktok-need-an-email-address-to-sign-up/. Accessed 27 Feb. 2023.
“TikTok Privacy Policy.” TikTok, www.tiktok.com/legal/privacy-policy. Accessed 27 Feb. 2023.
