TikTok has exploded in popularity over the last few years, becoming one of the most used social media platforms in the world. With over 1 billion monthly active users, TikTok offers people a fun and engaging way to watch short videos, connect with others, and express themselves creatively.
However, with such a massive userbase, TikTok has also become a target for fake accounts and bot activity. These fake accounts are created for a variety of purposes, some malicious and some more innocuous.
According to experts, there are a few main reasons why fake accounts proliferate on platforms like TikTok:
- To artificially inflate follower counts and engagement.
- To spam or scam real users.
- To spread misinformation or propaganda.
- To promote products, brands or services in an inauthentic way.
Identifying and reporting fake accounts helps keep the TikTok community authentic and protects users from potential harm. With some tips on spotting suspicious activity, users can play a role in limiting the reach and impact of fake accounts.
Warning Signs
One way to identify fake TikTok accounts is to look for warning signs in the profile and behavior of the account. Some warning signs to look out for include:
Minimal followers/following – Fake accounts often have very few followers and are not following many other accounts. According to Sociality.io, if an account has a high number of followers but is not following many accounts back, it could be fake (1).
Generic username – Fake accounts tend to use generic usernames that don’t relate to the content, such as combinations of numbers and letters. Real users normally choose unique usernames relevant to their brand or interests.
Reposted content – Accounts that heavily repost content from other users without creating original videos may be bots. Look for recycled content taken from other popular TikTok accounts.
Bot-like behavior – Strange commenting patterns, repetitive actions, and inhuman response times can signify bots. Pay attention to engagement that seems automated.
Minimal Followers/Following
One sign of a fake TikTok account is having very few followers or following very few other accounts. According to Social Insider, the average number of followers for real TikTok accounts ranges from around 500 followers for accounts with 0-5,000 followers, up to 11.2 million followers for accounts with over 1 million followers already. Accounts with fewer than 100-200 followers could be suspicious.
These fake accounts also often don’t follow many other accounts. Most genuine users actively engage with other content on the platform by liking, commenting, and following other creators. If an account has thousands of followers but is only following a handful of accounts, that’s a red flag.
Generic Username
One sign that a TikTok account may be fake is if it has a generic, impersonal username that contains just random words or numbers rather than a real name or identifiable information. Fake accounts often use usernames like “user1234” or “ttkvids” rather than a genuine name like “marysmith” or “johnjones.” The username may also contain a random mix of letters and numbers that don’t signify anything personal about the supposed user. According to this TikTok video, many fake accounts tend to use names with combinations of words like “official,” “fake,” “tt,” “account,” and “user” plus strings of numbers. If the username looks computer-generated without any thought, that’s a red flag it could be a fake bot account rather than belonging to a real person.
Reposted Content
One sign of a fake TikTok account is if it frequently reposts videos from other more popular accounts. According to Passionfruit, you can identify reposted videos by going to your profile and tapping on “Reposts” under the Accounts tab. This will show all the videos you have reposted from others. Fake accounts often repost viral videos in an attempt to gain followers quickly. If you notice an account reposting old videos that seem out of character with the rest of their content, that could be a red flag.
You can also tell if someone has reposted your own videos by checking under your profile’s Accounts > Reposts tab, as outlined by Predis.ai. Frequent reposting of other people’s original content without adding anything new is a sign of an inauthentic account trying to amass views and followers.
Bot-like Behavior
One sign of a fake TikTok account is bot-like behavior in the comments or likes. Bots often exhibit repetitive patterns when interacting on the platform. For example, a bot may leave generic comments like “Nice!” or “Great video!” on many videos in quick succession. Suspicious accounts also have a tendency to like a large number of posts in a short period, sometimes even hundreds within an hour, which would be difficult for a human to accomplish (source). The timing and volume of likes and comments from an account can be telltale signs it’s not operated by a real person.
Bots are programmed to maximize reach and engagement on the platform, so their activity doesn’t reflect normal human behavior. If you notice an account leaving short, generic comments or liking content in quick succession, it’s likely a bot. Pay attention to the timing and volume of interactions to identify bot accounts (source).
Verify Account
One way to check if a TikTok account is fake is to see if it has a verified badge or blue checkmark. Verified accounts on TikTok have a blue checkmark icon next to their username, indicating that TikTok has confirmed the authenticity of the account.
According to TikTok, “The blue verified badge is part of our ongoing commitment to providing transparency to our community and maintaining a safe and comfortable experience on TikTok.” Accounts can get verified by proving ownership of the account and showing proof of authenticity.
If an account does not have a blue checkmark, that alone does not necessarily mean it is fake. However, most popular and legitimate accounts will seek verification, so lack of a blue check is often a red flag. Pay close attention to unverified accounts with lots of followers or that are soliciting engagement, as these can be signals of inauthentic activity.
In addition to checking for a verified badge, also examine the content being posted and behavior of the account more broadly to determine if it seems legitimate or not.
Report Suspicious Activity
If you come across an account that seems fake, the best thing to do is report it to TikTok directly so they can investigate. TikTok has reporting tools built into the app that make this easy.
To report a suspicious account, go to their profile page and tap the three dots in the top right corner. Choose “Report” from the menu. You’ll be able to select from options like “This account may be impersonating someone” or “I think this account is spam.” TikTok also allows you to provide additional details.
According to TikTok’s Community Guidelines, accounts that impersonate others or are spam will be reviewed and removed if they violate policies. By taking the time to report questionable accounts, you can help TikTok identify and eliminate fakes.
Stay Vigilant
It’s important to stay vigilant when scrolling through TikTok, as new fake and bot accounts are constantly being created. Consider that over 1 billion users log onto TikTok every month (source), so the platform sees a massive amount of activity daily. Fake accounts can emerge in the blink of an eye. Be wary of suspicious looking accounts, even if they seem legitimate at first glance. Look out for subtle signs like minimal content, few followers, and bot-like engagement. It’s likely new fraudulent accounts are being made as you read this! The best defense is staying cautious and alert when interacting with unknown profiles.
Protect Yourself
Here are some tips to avoid interacting with fake TikTok accounts:
- Be wary of accounts with few posts and followers. According to sociality.io (source), fake accounts often have low engagement.
- Don’t automatically follow back or engage with accounts that follow or comment on your posts. Check their profiles first.
- Look out for generic usernames with random numbers or letters, which can signal bots. TikTok (source) notes this as a red flag.
- Pay attention if an account only reposts others’ content or posts at odd intervals, potential signs of automation according to sociality.io (source).
- Be cautious about links or offers in comments and bios. Fake accounts may try to spread spam or scams.
- Turn on comment filters to auto-remove unwanted interactions with potential fake accounts.
Staying vigilant about detecting and avoiding fake accounts can help keep your TikTok experience positive.
