On TikTok, users can see how many views their profile and videos receive. However, viewers remain anonymous unless they engage by liking, commenting, or following. Some TikTok users want to check out other profiles discreetly without the account owners knowing they viewed their page or content. Reasons for wanting anonymity include avoiding awkwardness with friends or acquaintances and viewing profiles of love interests or exes privately.
View Counts on TikTok
TikTok displays view counts publicly for videos on the platform by default. When a video is posted, TikTok will track and show the total number of views it has received under the video. This view count is displayed prominently and updated in real-time as more views come in [1]. The view count shows the total number of times a video has been watched, regardless of whether those views came from followers or random TikTok users. This gives creators insight into how much traction and reach their content is getting.
View counts on TikTok are always public information that anyone can see. There is no setting for creators to hide view data or make it private. The public view count allows viewers to gauge a video’s popularity and can influence whether they click on it. For creators, it provides valuable analytics on how engaging their content is.
Why Viewers May Want to Remain Anonymous
Some viewers prefer to browse TikTok anonymously so their viewing activity is private. There are a few reasons why a viewer may want to remain anonymous and not have creators know they’ve watched a video:
Privacy – Many people want to keep their viewing habits private. They don’t want creators, especially ones they don’t follow, to have data on what videos they watch.
Avoiding unwanted attention – If a viewer’s profile is public, creators may @ mention them or reach out to them directly if they know they’ve watched their videos. Some viewers want to avoid this unwanted attention.
Separating accounts – Some viewers have separate personal and professional accounts. They may watch videos anonymously on their personal account but don’t want creators to know their professional identity.
Awkwardness – Viewers may feel awkward if a creator knows they’ve watched very personal videos, like breakup stories or private family moments.
Safety – In some cases, viewers may have safety concerns and want to keep their viewing activity private to protect themselves.
The main motivation is maintaining privacy over viewing habits and browsing activity. Viewers want control over who can see what videos they watch on TikTok.
Turn Off View Counts
One of the easiest ways to see profile views on TikTok without your viewers knowing is to turn off public view counts in your settings. Here are the steps:
1. Open the TikTok app and go to your profile page.
2. Tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner to access the menu.
3. Select “Settings and privacy” from the menu.
4. Tap “Privacy” and scroll down to “Show user view counts.”
5. Toggle the setting off. This will prevent your view count from being publicly visible.
With this setting disabled, you can still see who viewed your profile in the analytics section, but other users won’t see the number of views your profile has received. This gives you private insight into your viewers [1].
Use a Private Account
One way to view someone’s TikTok profile anonymously is by using a private account. Private accounts on TikTok allow users to protect their privacy and content. When an account is set to private, the videos and likes are hidden from people who don’t follow that user.
Additionally, private accounts do not show public analytics and insights about views, likes, comments, shares etc. As TikTok explains in their Information about TikTok Analytics, “TikTok Analytics are provided only regarding the TikTok Account holder’s own account and based on Engagement Data related to their account. TikTok Account holders are not provided any Analytics regarding other users’ Accounts.”
So by making your viewing account private, you can browse other profiles anonymously without them being notified or shown that data. Just make sure to not follow or interact with their content, as that would notify them and show up in their analytics.
Use a Secondary ‘Finsta’ Account
One way to view TikTok profiles anonymously is to create a separate, private “finsta” account. Finsta is slang that stands for “fake Instagram,” and refers to a secondary social media account used to follow friends or share more personal content (source).
You can create a finsta TikTok account using a different email and username than your main account. Make sure your finsta profile is set to private, so only approved followers can see your activity. Then use your finsta to browse and watch TikTok profiles without anyone knowing (source).
The advantage of a finsta account is you can anonymously view content while keeping your primary TikTok identity separate. Just be cautious not to interact or engage with any accounts through your finsta, as this could reveal your identity. A finsta allows quiet, invisible lurking.
View Anonymously in a Web Browser
One way to view someone’s TikTok profile without them knowing is to use a web browser’s incognito or private browsing mode. When using incognito mode, the browser doesn’t save your browsing history, cookies, site data, or information entered in forms. This makes your viewing activities essentially anonymous.
To view a TikTok profile anonymously in Chrome, open an incognito window and go to TikTok.com. You can then search for and view profiles without the account owner being notified. The same goes for using Firefox’s Private Browsing mode or Safari’s Private Browsing mode. The desktop site will look a bit different than the mobile app, but you can still see all of a user’s posted videos.
The main drawback of anonymous web browsing is that you won’t be able to like, comment, or otherwise interact with any content. But for simply viewing profiles discreetly, it’s an easy option that doesn’t require creating a secondary account.
Be Cautious With Third-Party Analytics Apps
While it can be tempting to use third-party apps that claim to provide anonymous analytics about who is viewing your TikTok profile, it’s important to exercise caution. Many of these apps request extensive permissions to access your data and can potentially expose your information without your knowledge.
For example, a 2021 study from the University of Adelaide found that TikTok shares user data with third parties more than any other social media app, even when users have not consented to data collection. This highlights the risks of granting additional permissions to unknown third-party apps.
Before using any third-party analytics tools, carefully review their privacy policies and permission requests. Avoid granting unnecessary access to information like your profile details, contacts, location, etc. Stick to tools from well-known, reputable companies with a proven track record of protecting user privacy.
While the allure of anonymous analytics is understandable, protecting your personal information should be the top priority. Proceed with caution and think twice before handing your data over to an unknown third-party app solely for vanity metrics.
Respect User Privacy
While viewing TikTok profiles anonymously may seem harmless, it’s important to be mindful of creators’ privacy. Profiles are often considered personal spaces, and users likely don’t expect anonymous viewing. As TikTok’s community guidelines state, “We want everyone to feel confident that they can access information that is reliable, discover content that is original, and engage with people who are authentic.”
Before viewing a profile anonymously, consider how you would feel if roles were reversed. Thoughtful viewers will weigh the benefits against potential invasiveness. If opting to view anonymously, do so ethically without harassing creators or misusing their content. Ultimately, mutual respect between viewers and creators makes the TikTok community welcoming for all.
Conclusion
After analyzing the different methods available, the ethical choice is clear. The best approach is to simply turn off your own view counts within TikTok’s settings. This respects user privacy and aligns with the app’s purpose – enabling people to share content freely without worrying about who is watching.
While third-party apps may enable you to view profiles anonymously, they violate TikTok’s terms of service and should be avoided. As content creators ourselves, we understand the curiosity around view data. However, we must also respect user consent and boundaries.
Rather than obsessing over view counts, it’s healthier to simply focus on creating great content. If your videos resonate with viewers, you’ll be able to tell through genuine engagement and feedback. Keep being creative, stay inspired, and your audience will grow organically over time.
