The popularity of TikTok has skyrocketed in recent years, with over 1 billion monthly active users as of September 2022. However, the platform has also seen a major increase in fake accounts and bots. According to TikTok’s latest transparency report, the company removed over 33 million fake accounts from January to March 2022, a 62% increase from the previous quarter.[1] This demonstrates the massive scale of fake profiles being created on TikTok and the ongoing challenge to detect and remove them. Bots and fake accounts can be used for nefarious purposes like scams, spamming, and artificially inflating follower counts. They make it harder for genuine users to grow an authentic audience and undermine trust in the platform. With fakes potentially making up a substantial portion of TikTok’s userbase, it’s important for users to be aware of signs that an account may not be real.
Check Account Age
One way to determine if a TikTok account is real is to look at the age of the account. Older accounts are more likely to be real. According to Wallaroo Media, over 68% of TikTok users are between the ages of 10 and 39. Most real people, especially teenagers and young adults, have had a TikTok account for at least a year or two.
Brand new accounts that only have a few videos could be inauthentic or automated bot accounts. However, even new accounts could be real if the content seems genuine. Overall, an account that has been regularly posting videos for a long period is less likely to be fake.
Look at Follower Count
One way to spot a fake account is by analyzing their follower count. Authentic accounts on TikTok tend to accumulate a decent number of followers over time if they consistently produce engaging content. According to Social Insider, the average TikTok account with 5,000-10,000 followers has an engagement rate of around 3.5%.
In contrast, fake and bot accounts often have very low follower counts, sometimes with 0 followers. This is because these accounts are quickly created just to spam or scam others, and no real users actually follow them. If you come across a suspicious-seeming account with only a handful of followers, that’s a red flag that it may not represent a real person.
Of course, follower count alone doesn’t definitively prove an account’s authenticity. New users start out with 0 followers, and even popular influencers bought fake followers early on. But combined with other factors, an unusually low follower count for the account’s age and content can signify a fake account.
Analyze Engagement
One way to determine if a TikTok account is real or fake is to analyze the engagement on their videos. Genuine accounts tend to get more comments and likes per video compared to fake bot accounts. According to research by Megadigital, the average engagement rate per follower on TikTok is around 5.7%.[1] This means that for every 100 followers, a real account will get about 6 likes or comments on their average video.
A good benchmark to use is that real accounts tend to get over 100 likes per thousand followers as an average across their videos. So an account with 10,000 followers should be getting at least 1,000 likes per video on average if they are real. Fake accounts often have much lower engagement rates, with very few comments or likes compared to their number of followers.
When analyzing engagement, be sure to look at it per video rather than just the total engagement on the profile. Real accounts have consistent engagement on each video, while fake accounts may have inflated total numbers but low engagement on individual videos.
Review Content Quality
One way to spot a fake TikTok account is to look closely at the quality and originality of the content being posted. Real accounts tend to post high-quality, original videos that show creativity and effort. As TikTok’s community guidelines state, “Authentic engagement is central to the integrity of our platform” (https://www.tiktok.com/community-guidelines/en/integrity-authenticity/).
Fake accounts often recycle the same low-quality videos or steal content from other users. According to one source, “An authentic account will have a variety of high-quality videos” (https://tiktal.co/how-to-spot-fake-influencers-on-tiktok/). Look for lazy editing, generic content, and lack of creativity as signs of a fake account just trying to game the system.
Additionally, fake accounts may try to boost engagement by copying trending audios, hashtags, or effects without adding anything new. But real creators put thought and effort into producing engaging content.
Check Verification Status
One way to check if a TikTok account is real is to see if it has a verified badge. According to TikTok’s Help Center, verified accounts have a blue checkmark next to their handle, indicating that TikTok has confirmed the authenticity of the account. Accounts can become verified by meeting TikTok’s criteria and applying for verification through the app.
As of January 2023, there were over 444,000 verified creators on TikTok worldwide, according to Social Blade (source). Verified status provides credibility and shows that a real person, brand or organization is running the account. Unverified accounts may still be real people, but the verification badge gives an extra layer of legitimacy.
When evaluating an account, look for the blue verified badge. While its absence doesn’t guarantee a fake account, having the checkmark signals TikTok has reviewed and validated the account owner’s identity.
Watch for Suspicious Behavior
Bots will often show repetitive patterns with their following, commenting, and liking activity that can reveal their automated nature. For example, a bot may follow or comment on tons of accounts within a short period of time or like a user’s posts at extremely consistent intervals. According to ITP Live, bot accounts tend to follow, comment on, or like content in obvious automated patterns compared to real users who show more natural variation in their activity.
If you notice an account interacting with your content or other users’ posts at a suspiciously consistent pace or volume, it’s likely a bot. Bots are programmed to maximize activity and growth in an automated way, rather than behaving like an actual person. So be wary of accounts that seem to be too active or regimented in how they distribute their likes, comments, and follows.
Look at Bio Details
One way to spot a fake account is to closely analyze the bio. Real people tend to provide authentic details about themselves in the bio, such as their real name, location, interests, etc. However, fake accounts often have sparse information or details that seem inconsistent.
For example, the bio may list a location that doesn’t match where the user appears to live based on their content. Or it may contain interests and hobbies that don’t align with the account’s posts and stories.
According to Later.com, “Fake Instagram accounts will often copy their bio from a real one — with a few changes and inconsistencies.”
Search Online for Cross-References
Real people tend to have information and accounts on other social media platforms or websites. Conduct a broad online search to see if you can find the person’s name, image, or username associated with accounts elsewhere like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or personal blogs and websites. Cross-referencing a TikTok account with other sources can help verify someone’s identity and real-life presence.
For example, you could search their exact username or display name in quotes on Google to locate associated accounts. Or you could do a reverse image search using a profile picture to see if it appears on other sites tied to a consistent identity. Finding matching information validates the person’s authenticity.
However, lack of online cross-references doesn’t necessarily indicate a fake identity. Some people maintain strict privacy and separation between accounts. But typically, genuine users will have some kind of digital footprint or breadcrumbs connecting their identity across platforms.
Use Common Sense
At the end of the day, the best way to determine if someone is real on TikTok is to use your common sense and best judgment. If something seems fake or too good to be true, it likely is. Be wary of accounts with outrageous claims or stories that don’t quite add up. Ask yourself if this person’s content seems feasible and matches their online persona. Look for red flags like contradictions, heavily filtered or edited videos, or impersonations of celebrities and influencers. While fakes and bots do exist on TikTok, most genuine users will showcase originality and authenticity if you look closely. Go with your gut instinct and be skeptical of anything that gives you pause. If an account trips your alarms for being potentially fake, it’s best to unfollow and not engage.
