Public vs. Private TikTok Accounts: How To Choose

When you’re 18 or older and open a TikTok account, it’s public by default. If you’re 16 or 17, it’s set to private but you can change it to a public account if you’d like. Those under the age of 16 will always have private accounts, but they can “go public” when they turn 16.

To put it more simply, TikTok users over the age of 15 can choose either option. To do that, of course, it’s necessary to understand the differences between a public and a private TikTok presence.

Here’s what you need to know.

Features of Public TikTok Accounts

The most important fact about a public TikTok account is that the owner’s videos can be watched by all TikTok users unless the content creator specifically makes an individual post private. The same is true for Live shows. Videos (and the user’s profile) will also show up in TikTok searches by anyone on the social media platform.

Other key features of public accounts may be of some concern to those who want to keep their TikTok activity relatively anonymous.

• Any TikTok user can follow you without your approval.
• Your TikTok profile and bio are visible to all visitors.
• The lists of videos you’ve liked, people who follow you, and people who you follow are all accessible to the app’s users.
• Viewers can download your content and create stickers, Stitches, and Duets with your videos (again, unless you specifically ban those activities for one or most of your posts),

Features of Private TikTok Accounts

To be honest, it’s impossible to stay completely invisible on TikTok or any other app. Making your account private will prevent most unwanted visitors from seeing what you do or bothering you, though.

• No one can view your TikTok posts or see your TikTok bio unless they follow you, even if they use the search function (your TikTok username and profile photo will always be visible).
• No one can follow you unless manually approve their follow request.
• Your lists of followers, people you’re following, and likes are all hidden from everyone except followers.
• Your TikTok videos can’t be downloaded or used in Duets or Stitches, and no one can add your posts to their TikTok Stories.

How to Make a TikTok Account Private

These instructions work for either making a public account private, or a private one public. The only difference is whether you toggle a switch “on” or “off.”

1. Visit your profile page by tapping the “Profile” icon at the bottom right of your home screen.
2. Open the profile menu by clicking the three horizontal lines at the top right of the screen.
3. Choose “Settings and privacy” in the popup window.
4. Select “Privacy,” and on the next screen, move the toggle switch at the top (labeled “Private account”) to the right to make your account private or to the left to make it public.

You can change the setting at any time (as long as you’re not younger than 16).

Making their account private is one of the best ways that users concerned about their TikTok privacy can protect their content and hide most of their activity on the app. It’s smart to give it some thought, even if you eventually decide to stay public.