TikTok allows users to follow other accounts and view their content. By default, TikTok shows posts from accounts you follow in an algorithmic order based on factors like engagement and watch time. However, some users prefer to view posts chronologically, in the original posting order. Here’s an overview of how to enable chronological order following on TikTok.
What Does Chronological Order Mean on TikTok?
Chronological order on TikTok means viewing posts from accounts you follow in the original posting order, with the newest posts shown first. This differs from the default TikTok feed which uses an algorithm to determine the order. The algorithmic feed shows you posts it thinks you’re most likely to engage with first, based on your interactions. A chronological feed simply shows the latest posts in reverse posting order without algorithmic sorting.
Why Follow Accounts Chronologically on TikTok?
There are a few reasons TikTok users may want to follow accounts chronologically rather than via the algorithm:
- See all posts from followed accounts, not just selected ones
- Avoid getting stuck in echo chambers from over-personalization
- Maintain a sense of timeliness and currency with latest posts shown first
- Avoid missing posts that get buried in algorithmic feeds
- Provide more transparency and predictability than opaque algorithms
The chronological feed gives users more control and ensures they see all content from followed accounts in a timely manner. However, it means missing out on some of the perceived benefits of algorithms, like personalized recommendations.
How to Follow Accounts Chronologically on TikTok
TikTok provides an option to toggle between algorithmic and chronological feeds for following accounts. Here’s how to set your main For You feed and Following feed to chronological order:
- Open TikTok and tap the profile icon in the bottom right to access your profile
- Tap the three horizontal line menu icon in the top right corner
- Select ‘Settings and privacy’ from the menu
- Tap ‘Suggestions’ under the Account heading
- Tap ‘Suggested accounts’ and toggle it off
- Tap ‘Suggested hashtags’ and toggle it off
- Tap back to return to the previous menu
- Tap ‘Content preferences’ under Account
- Toggle ‘Automatically play top content’ off
- Return to profile and your For You feed will now be chronological
Disabling those auto-suggestions and top content settings removes the algorithmic curation from your For You feed. You will see posts from followed accounts and trending hashtags in chronological order.
To make your Following feed chronological:
- Go to the Following feed tab on your profile
- Tap the three-dot menu icon at the top right of feed
- Select ‘Order by time’ rather than ‘Auto’
Your Following feed will then show the latest posts from accounts you follow in reverse chronological order. Repeat those steps to toggle back to algorithmic sorting any time.
Does Chronological Work for Comments?
The chronological feed options only apply to the main posts from accounts you follow. The comments on posts will still be ordered algorithmically even in a chronological feed. TikTok says this is to highlight the most relevant comments and conversations first.
So while posts appear chronologically, comment order is still determined by algorithms. There is no option to view comments strictly chronologically at this time.
Using 3rd Party Apps for Chronological Feeds
Some third party apps claim to offer chronological sorting options for TikTok. However, TikTok does not provide official API access, so these apps likely rely on web scraping or unofficial workarounds. Results and reliability may vary.
Options like TokTok and Chronicle for TikTok are not endorsed or supported by TikTok. They may stop working if TikTok changes its site code or blocks them. Use third party apps at your own risk compared to the official chronological options.
Chronological Benefits and Drawbacks
Viewing TikTok feeds chronologically has some benefits but also some drawbacks to weigh:
Potential Benefits
- See all posts from followed accounts
- Transparency into how content is ordered
- Avoid algorithmic biases or bubbles
- Timeliness of latest posts shown first
Potential Drawbacks
- Loses personalized recommendations
- Might mean more irrelevant content
- Harder to discover new interests
- Losses some algorithmic conveniences
It’s ultimately a personal choice whether the transparency of chronological sorting outweighs the potential discovery benefits of algorithms for your TikTok use.
Chronological Order and the TikTok Algorithm
Turning off algorithmic sorting doesn’t mean you’ve escaped the TikTok algorithm entirely. Your profile data will still be used to determine what reaches your For You feed in the first place through hashtags and account suggestions.
And using chronological order doesn’t stop TikTok collecting data or impacting visibility. But it does offer more control over exactly what you see from followed accounts.
In general, TikTok still controls what content surfaces through its algorithm even if you then view it chronologically. Full algorithmic transparency remains lacking.
Is Complete Chronological Feasible?
For extremely large feeds with millions of accounts, a pure chronological sort may become cumbersome and noisy. Some compromise of algorithms to filter signal from noise may be necessary. But offer more transparency.
Giving users greater visibility into why they are shown particular content can complement chronological options. Let users choose their preferred balance of algorithms and chronology.
