TikTok has exploded in popularity in recent years, becoming one of the most downloaded apps worldwide. Behind the fun dances and comedy sketches lies serious concerns around privacy and data collection. TikTok’s parent company ByteDance is based in China, raising fears that data on US users could be accessed by the Chinese government. With over 125 million monthly active users just in the US, TikTok holds an immense trove of sensitive user information. Understanding how your data is collected, used and secured on TikTok is crucial. In this article, we’ll dive into what data TikTok gathers, whether your search history is private, how to adjust settings to protect privacy, and the regulatory context around TikTok’s data practices.
What Data Does TikTok Collect?
TikTok collects a significant amount of data from its users. According to research, some of the key types of data collected include:
User information: TikTok requires users to provide information such as age, username, device identifiers, and contact information like email or phone number when creating an account. The platform may also access profile information and content from linked social media accounts [1].
Device information: TikTok accesses data about the device used to access the platform, including hardware model, operating system, IP address, mobile carrier, and unique device identifiers. This allows TikTok to fingerprint devices [2].
Location data: TikTok accesses and tracks precise location data of users from their devices when they use the app. This enables location-based features and provides analytics on user traffic.
Analytics data: Usage analytics are extensively collected by TikTok, including user behavior, content engagement, and browsing data. This data powers TikTok’s recommendation algorithm.
Is My Search History Private?
Yes and no. By default, your search history on TikTok is visible to you when logged in, but not to others. When you search for something in the TikTok app or website, it will store a record of your search terms and the content you engage with.
This allows TikTok to customize your For You feed and recommend content based on your interests. However, your full search history is not visible to other users or displayed publicly on your profile in any way.
TikTok states in its privacy policy that it may collect data on the content you view and interact with, including search queries, to analyze how you use the platform. However, they claim to keep individual user data confidential.
So in summary, your search history is technically viewable only to you and to TikTok itself, not to other users, making it essentially private. But TikTok does store records of your searches to personalize your experience, like most social platforms.
Changing Privacy Settings
TikTok allows users to adjust some privacy controls in the app itself. To access these settings, open your profile and tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner. Then select “Privacy and safety” or “Manage my account” depending on your version of the app.
Under “Privacy and safety,” you can toggle options like:
- Who can view your liked videos
- Allow others to find me
- Suggest your account to others
In “Manage my account,” you can adjust settings like:
- Private account (limits your content to approved followers only)
- Comments
- Duet and Stitch
- Downloading videos
While these controls allow you to limit some sharing and visibility, they do not cover more sensitive information like search history. Adjusting these basic account settings does not delete any data TikTok has already collected about you.
For more comprehensive privacy settings, you need to visit TikTok’s website and adjust privacy controls through your account there. See TikTok’s support page for step-by-step instructions.
Deleting Search History
TikTok allows users to delete their search history directly within the app. To do this, open TikTok and tap on your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Then go to Settings > Privacy > Clear watching history. This will give you the option to delete your entire search history or select specific videos to remove. You can also tap “Manage search history” in this menu to view and delete searches individually.
According to Dexerto, deleting your search history this way only removes it from your own view – TikTok still stores the data internally. For a full delete, you’ll need to request account deletion or submit a GDPR data request.
On iOS, you can clear the TikTok cache to delete search history using the ‘Offload App’ feature in iPhone settings. This removes temporary app files and data without deleting the app itself. Android users can ‘Clear Cache’ in app settings for a similar effect.
Overall, while TikTok provides options to remove search history from your own view, the data likely still exists in TikTok’s systems. For a comprehensive delete, you’ll need to take more drastic actions like deleting your account entirely.
Incognito Mode
TikTok allows users to browse the platform anonymously using Incognito Mode. When enabled, Incognito Mode does not save your browsing history, searches, likes, follows, comments or any other activity during that session [1]. This allows you to explore TikTok privately without anything being linked back to your account.
To turn on Incognito Mode, tap on your profile picture in the bottom right corner and select “Enable Incognito Mode”. This will open an anonymous session that persists until you turn off Incognito Mode. While enabled, your profile picture will show a spy icon indicating you are browsing privately [2].
Using Incognito Mode is useful if you want to watch videos that you don’t necessarily want impacting your main feed recommendations. It also allows teens to browse more freely without activity being tracked to their account. Just remember that Incognito Mode only provides privacy within TikTok, as your internet service provider can still monitor your overall online activity.
Third-Party Apps
While TikTok does not share your personal data with third-party apps by default, connecting your TikTok account with certain third-party apps can pose privacy risks. Some third-party apps may collect more data than necessary or use your data for purposes other than enabling the app’s services.
For example, some third-party editing or downloader apps may access your profile information, videos, and other content. They may share this data with advertisers or analytics companies without your knowledge. Other apps may store your TikTok login credentials and use them to collect data about your account over time.
TikTok’s Privacy Policy states that they are not responsible for how third-party apps handle your information. So it’s important to research any third-party apps carefully and only connect those you trust.
You can view which third-party apps are connected to your TikTok account through your account settings. It’s a good idea to periodically review these connections and remove those no longer in use.
While third-party apps can provide helpful functionality, connecting them to your TikTok introduces new potential privacy risks. Proceed with caution and avoid granting unnecessary access to your profile data.
Data Protection Regulation
There are several privacy laws and regulations that apply to TikTok due to its large user base and data collection practices. The key regulations are:
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation): As TikTok has millions of users in the EU, it must comply with GDPR, which gives users rights over their data and restricts how companies can process user data without consent (source).
CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act): Since TikTok’s parent company ByteDance is located in California, CCPA applies. CCPA gives California residents rights regarding their personal data collection and use by companies (source).
COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act): As many teens use TikTok, COPPA applies in restricting data collection on children under 13 without parental consent (source).
TikTok claims to be compliant with these regulations, but its data practices have faced ongoing scrutiny and privacy concerns.
TikTok’s Response
TikTok has addressed growing privacy concerns by updating their privacy policy. In their latest privacy policy, TikTok states they collect user data to “provide, personalize, maintain and improve” their services. They claim data is only shared with third parties for “business purposes” and users can control sharing through privacy settings.
Regarding search history specifically, TikTok’s community guidelines state they do not allow sharing of personal information that could lead to harm. Their privacy policy outlines that users can delete search history and use incognito mode for more private searching.
While some critics argue TikTok’s privacy protections remain inadequate, their recent updates show an effort to improve transparency and user control over data collection practices.
Conclusion
TikTok’s privacy settings regarding search history are not crystal clear. By default, TikTok does store and track your search history – although they claim the data is anonymized and aggregated. However, it seems some user search data could potentially be linked back to accounts.
If users wish to increase privacy, they can take steps like regularly clearing search history, using incognito mode for sensitive searches, and adjusting account privacy settings. However, controls over search data privacy are still rather limited.
Overall, TikTok users must weigh benefits versus potential privacy risks. While TikTok claims they maintain security and privacy, their policies remain ambiguous. Users uncomfortable with TikTok accessing search data can minimize use of the app or avoid sensitive searches.
