TikTok is a popular video-sharing social networking service owned by ByteDance, a Beijing-based internet technology company. It hosts short-form user videos ranging from 3 to 60 seconds, allowing users to create and share short videos on any topic.
TikTok was launched in September 2016 for iOS and Android in markets outside of China. Originally known as Douyin in China, TikTok quickly grew and was one of the most downloaded apps in 2018 and 2019, becoming the first Chinese app to grow its user base internationally.[1]
As of 2022, TikTok has been downloaded over 3.3 billion times worldwide on the App Store and Google Play, and has over 1 billion monthly active users globally.[2] It is available in over 150 markets and 75 languages.
Why Find Someone by Phone Number?
There are several valid reasons why someone may want to find another person by their phone number:
Reconnecting with old friends or acquaintances – If you’ve lost touch with someone over time, finding their current contact information like a phone number can help you get back in touch and reconnect.
Verifying identity – If you meet someone new, finding their phone number can help confirm their identity and make sure they are who they claim to be.
Safety concerns – If you feel unsafe or threatened by someone, looking up their number can help you identify and avoid that person if needed.
Checking on loved ones – Parents, spouses, and others may look up a loved one’s phone number to check on their safety and wellbeing if unable to reach them.
Business purposes – Employers and business owners often need to lookup contact info like phone numbers for various professional reasons.
Curiosity – Some people may look up an old friend or acquaintance’s number out of curiosity to see what they are up to nowadays.
While the ability to find someone by phone number can be useful, it also comes with privacy risks. It’s important to use this capability responsibly and avoid misusing someone’s personal information.
Can You Search by Phone Number on TikTok?
No, there is currently no direct way to search for someone’s TikTok profile using just their phone number. TikTok does not have a built-in search feature that allows looking up users by their phone number or contacts.
When creating a TikTok account, a phone number can be used to verify the account along with an email address. However, this phone number is not visible on a user’s public profile and is not searchable on TikTok’s platform.
TikTok likely does not allow searching by phone number as a safety and privacy measure for its users. Phone numbers are considered personally identifiable information. Allowing searches via phone number could potentially expose users to stalking, harassment, or other unwanted attention from strangers on the platform.
Overall, to find someone’s TikTok profile you will need their exact username or link to their profile page. Searching by phone number is not possible directly within TikTok at this time.
Third-Party Tools
There are some third-party websites and apps that claim they can find a TikTok user by searching with a phone number. However, it’s important to exercise caution with these, as many may not actually deliver what they promise or could potentially be scams.
For example, sites like istaunch.com and apps like “TikTok Phone Number Finder” say they can locate TikTok profiles using just a phone number. However, TikTok does not provide official support for searching by phone number. These third parties likely do not have special access to TikTok data.
Before using any third-party phone number lookup services, do your research. Look for reviews and feedback from other users. Be wary of any service asking for money or personal information. Chances are these services cannot actually search TikTok profiles by phone number alone.
In general, it’s safer to use TikTok’s official tools for finding friends and contacts. Relying on unverified third-party services to search by phone number carries risks.
Best Alternative Search Methods
Since you cannot directly search for someone’s TikTok account using just their phone number, the best alternative is to search by their name, username, or associated social media accounts. Here are some tips for alternative search methods:
- Search for their exact username – this is the most direct way to find someone’s TikTok if you know their exact @handle.
- Search their name – you can try searching their first and last name or just first name. This may surface their account if they use a recognizable name.
- Check their other social media – see if you can find them on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook etc using their name. Often times people use the same username across platforms so you may be able to discover their TikTok handle.
- Use Google search – search their name + “TikTok” and you may find their account referenced.
- Ask friends/family if they know the person’s TikTok username.
While a phone number search is not possible, using their name and checking their known online profiles can help you discover someone’s TikTok handle.
Contact TikTok Support
If you’re concerned about suspicious activity on your TikTok account or want to report inappropriate content, you can contact TikTok’s Support team directly to investigate the issue. TikTok has contact information for customer support inquiries on their Contact page.
You can submit an inquiry through TikTok’s Help Center, which has resources to help you with account issues, privacy and safety concerns, managing your account, and more. Their Help Center covers many common issues users may face.
Another option is to email TikTok Support directly if your issue is urgent. Though they don’t provide an email address publicly, sites like LiveAgent have compiled contact info for getting in touch with their support staff.
When you reach out to TikTok Support, provide as many details as possible about the suspicious activity or content you want addressed. Their team can then investigate and take action on your account if needed. This is the best way to get help directly from TikTok on issues regarding your account security, privacy, or problematic content.
Profile Privacy Settings
TikTok allows users to control the privacy settings on their profile to limit who can see their content. By default, TikTok sets new accounts to private, meaning only approved followers can view videos, likes, and follow lists (source).
To manage privacy settings, go to your profile and tap the three-dot menu. Select “Privacy and Safety” and toggle “Private Account” on or off. With a private account, you can approve or deny each follower request (source).
You can also limit commenting on videos. Go to Privacy Settings > Comment Control and select who can comment. Choose from everyone, friends, or no one. This prevents unwanted interactions (source).
For messages, enable Restricted Mode under Privacy and Safety. This limits messages to followers only. You can also turn off direct messages completely (source). Controlling these settings helps maintain a positive environment.
Avoid Sharing Personal Info
Sharing personal information like phone numbers online comes with serious privacy and safety risks that users should be aware of. Giving out your phone number to strangers on the internet can open you up to stalking, harassment, identity theft, and other dangers according to sources (https://allaboutcookies.org/dont-give-out-cell-phone-number, https://techround.co.uk/guides/dangers-sharing-phone-numbers-online/).
Once someone has your phone number, they can potentially access your other accounts and personal information using it to reset passwords. They may also sell your number to telemarketers or scammers leading to an increase in unwanted calls and texts. Stalkers can use your number to track your location and movements.
It’s best to avoid openly sharing your phone number with strangers online whenever possible. Be wary of requests for your number in chat rooms, comments, forums or on social media. Only provide it when absolutely necessary to trusted entities. Keep your profile privacy settings on high alert and never link your phone number to social media accounts if you can avoid it. Your personal safety and privacy are most important.
Reporting Inappropriate Content
If you come across concerning or inappropriate content on TikTok, you can report it directly through the app or website. This helps TikTok identify and remove content that violates its community guidelines.
To report a problematic video, go to the video page and tap the More Options button. Select “Report” and choose a reason for your report such as nudity, harassment, or hate speech. You’ll have the option to provide additional details to TikTok on why you’re reporting the content.
To report another user’s profile, go to their profile page and tap the Share button. Choose “Report” and then select “Report account.” Pick the reason that best describes your concerns such as “pretending to be someone else” or “under 13 years old.”
You can also report content or accounts by submitting a report form on TikTok’s website. Go to support.tiktok.com and fill out the form with the details of what you want to report.
By flagging inappropriate or dangerous content, you can help keep the TikTok community safe. Make sure to report any profiles or videos that seem to violate TikTok’s guidelines.
Conclusion
In summary, there is no direct way to search for someone’s TikTok profile using just their phone number. TikTok does not allow phone number lookups for privacy reasons. While some third-party sites claim to offer this service, they should be avoided as they likely violate TikTok’s terms of service and may compromise your personal information.
The safest approach is to use TikTok’s search bar to look up a user by name, username, or hashtag. You can also try searching their associated social media profiles on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube to find a link to their TikTok page.
If you need to get in touch with someone on TikTok who you don’t know personally, it’s best to send them a comment or connect via another platform first. Never share personal contact details like your phone number on your public TikTok profile.
Remember to report any concerning interactions or inappropriate content to TikTok right away. With caution and common sense, you can find and connect with people on TikTok without compromising your privacy or safety.
