TikTok allows users to choose between having a public account or a private account. With a public account, anyone can view your profile information, videos, and comments. This allows your content to reach the widest possible audience. A private account limits access so only approved followers can see your posts. This provides more privacy and control.
Users may want to switch between public and private accounts based on their goals. For example, creators hoping to gain a large following typically keep their account public to increase visibility. Someone wanting a more personal experience may prefer a private account. TikTok makes it easy to change settings at any time to adjust the audience for your content.
Check Your Current Account Status
Before changing your TikTok account from private to public or vice versa, first check whether it’s currently set to public or private.
To check your current account status on TikTok:
- Open the TikTok app and go to your profile page.
- Tap the three-dot menu icon in the upper right corner.
- Select “Settings and privacy” from the menu.
- Under “Account,” tap “Privacy.”
- On the Privacy screen you will see “Private account” with a toggle switch next to it. If the switch is enabled to the right your account is currently private. If it’s disabled to the left, your account is public.
This allows you to verify your current privacy setting before making any changes.
Switching to a Public Account
Follow these step-by-step instructions to make your private TikTok account public again:
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Open the TikTok app on your iPhone or Android device.
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Tap on your profile icon in the bottom right corner.
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Tap on the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner.
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Select “Settings and privacy” from the menu.
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Tap on “Privacy”.
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Toggle the switch for “Private account” off so it is gray and in the left position. This makes your account public.
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Confirm that you want to make your account public when prompted.
Your TikTok account is now public again. Anyone will be able to view your profile and videos without needing to follow you or be approved as a follower.
Who Can See a Public Account
A public TikTok account means that anyone on or off the platform can view your profile information and videos. Your profile and content will show up in searches, and can be seen by people who don’t follow you.
With a public account, your profile photo, bio, number of followers/following, liked videos, and original videos are visible to all TikTok users.
Additionally, your videos have the default setting of “public”, allowing anyone to watch, share, comment and otherwise engage with them. TikTok users do not need to follow you or be connected to see a public account’s content.
This differs from a private account, where only approved followers can view your information and videos. Private accounts provide more control over privacy and security, limiting access to your profile and videos.
Overall, a public setting opens your account to the whole TikTok community, while a private setting restricts access to only people you approve.
Benefits of a Public Account
Making your TikTok account public comes with several benefits that can help grow your audience and further your goals on the platform.
One of the main benefits is increased discoverability. With a public account, all TikTok users are able to find and view your profile and videos without any restrictions. This makes it much easier for your content to be discovered organically by people who may be interested in the types of videos you post.
According to TikTok, videos posted to public accounts have higher chances of ending up on the ‘For You’ page and trending feeds, which can expose your content to millions of new viewers.
Having a public account is also important for branding and sponsorships. Brands want to partner with creators who have an engaged following and impressive view counts. Keeping your account public allows you to more accurately demonstrate your reach and value to potential sponsors.
As TikTok explains, “a public account gives brands assurance that they’ll get the full value of your partnership by having access to all of your metrics.” This transparency is key for securing business opportunities on the platform.
Overall, a public account opens up much greater visibility which is critical for gaining followers, getting content distributed by TikTok’s algorithm, attracting sponsorships and establishing yourself as a creator.
Risks of a Public Account
Having a public TikTok account comes with some risks, especially when it comes to privacy and inappropriate comments. Since anyone can view and interact with a public profile, there is a lack of control over who sees your content. According to MakeUseOf, this means you may be more susceptible to stalking, bullying, or unwanted attention from strangers on the internet.
TikTok collects a significant amount of user data for advertising purposes, raising concerns over how that data could be used or shared. As reported by Security.org, some of the data collected includes your location, contacts, browsing data, search history, and more. While TikTok claims they keep this data protected, public accounts are still giving up more personal information than private ones.
Having a public profile also means anyone can comment on your videos. While comments can help grow an audience, they also open the door to harassment, hate speech, or predatory remarks. Moderating and filtering comments on a public account requires more effort. For younger users especially, inappropriate comments from strangers can be upsetting or dangerous.
Overall, public accounts sacrifice privacy and control in order to help content spread further on TikTok. It’s important to carefully consider these risks before making an account public.
Making Your Account Private Again
If you decide you want to make your TikTok account private again after previously making it public, it’s easy to do:
1. Open the TikTok app on your mobile device and tap on your profile icon in the bottom right corner.
2. Tap on the three dots in the top right corner to open the menu.
3. Select “Privacy and safety” from the menu options.
4. Toggle the switch next to “Private account” to turn it from off to on. This will instantly make your account private again.
Once you make your account private, only users you approve will be able to view your videos and follow you. Your existing followers will remain, but new followers will need your approval. You can easily switch between a public and private account at any time based on your preferences.
Who Can See a Private Account
On TikTok, when your account is set to private, the only people who can see your posts and profile are your approved followers. This means any random person on TikTok won’t be able to find and view your private account. According to TikTok’s support site, “Only your followers can see your private account and its content. Those who aren’t following you must send a follow request in order to see your private videos, posts, likes, and more” (source).
So if someone wants to view your private TikTok account, they first have to send you a follow request, which you can approve or deny. You get to control who can access your private profile. Your existing followers will remain followers even after you switch to private. But any new followers will need approval. Overall, a private account gives you more control over who can interact with your profile and content.
Benefits of a Private Account
One of the main benefits of having a private TikTok account is that it gives you more control over your followers and comments. With a private account, you get to approve who follows you and can limit your audience to only people you know. This prevents unwanted followers from interacting with your content.
Having a private account also lets you filter comments so that only people you’ve approved can comment on your videos. This creates a safer and more positive commenting environment. You won’t have to worry about offensive or inappropriate comments from strangers. Overall, the increased control over followers and comments can lead to a more personalized, engaging experience on TikTok.
In addition, a private account ensures your videos are only visible to followers you approve. This allows you to share content in a more private setting without worrying about it being seen by the general public on TikTok. The limited audience can be beneficial if you want to post videos meant just for close friends and family.
Conclusion
In summary, the main differences between a public and private TikTok account are:
- Public accounts allow anyone to view your profile and videos without needing to follow you.
- Private accounts only allow approved followers to see your content.
Here are some factors to consider when deciding which option is right for you:
- A public account can help you gain more followers, likes, and video views since your content is open to everyone.
- A private account gives you more control over who interacts with your profile and provides more privacy.
- If your goal is to grow an audience and increase engagement, a public setting may be preferable.
- If you prefer limiting access to approved followers only, then a private account is likely the better choice.
The good news is you can easily switch between public and private as needed based on your evolving preferences and goals for your TikTok presence.
