How To Change TikTok Privacy Settings

Your security and privacy on a social platform as a user are of utmost importance. Regardless of the information you share on your page, you should always protect your privacy in any way possible.

This is why social platforms incorporate several features that let you control how people interfere with your posts and account.

In this article, we’ll detail how you can change these privacy settings on TikTok.

TikTok and Its Privacy Settings

TikTok understands the need to have privacy while enjoying the content it brings to you from around the world.

As a result, you have the choice to make your account private or public. With a public account, any other user on the app can view your videos, bio, live, followers, and also see people you follow.

The general TikTok population will also be able to download, stitch, and duet your videos unless you specifically turn off the feature from the settings or while posting the video.

However, with a private account, you’ll already shut off these features, and the people with access to your page will be the ones you allow.

TikTok is flexible with its privacy settings as you can choose to make your TikTok account private to restrict many settings or select which ones you want your account to have.

How To Make Your Account Private

If you’d like to make your account private and restrict the features listed above, follow these steps:

1. Launch the TikTok app.
2. Tap the profile icon to the far right of the bottom navigation bar.
3. Click on the three-line menu at the top right of the page.
4. Select “Settings and Privacy”.
5. Tap on “Privacy” and toggle on “Private account”.

However, note that people will still be able to search for your account on the app and send a request to follow your account. Beyond that, you have control over pretty much everything else.

How To Change Your Activity Status on TikTok

If your account is public and you’re mutual followers with a person, there are a few features they can access that you might consider private.

For instance, you both can see when you are active or were last active if both have your “activity status” on. However, if one person’s setting is off, the feature will be available to neither person.

You might not find this feature for your account as it’s not yet available to everyone. However, if you do, follow these steps to turn it off:

1. Launch the TikTok app and navigate to your profile.
2. Click on the three-line menu at the top right of the page.
3. Select “Settings and privacy” and click “Privacy”.
4. Toggle off the icon in front of “Activity Status”.

How To Change Your Suggested Accounts Settings

Depending on the information and access you give to TikTok, you’ll get suggestions on account to follow. This means the app might sync your account with your contact list, Facebook account, Twitter account, and other social platforms. You’ll also get suggestions from mutual accounts.

However, you can also change this setting if you think it’s infringing on your privacy:

1. Launch your TikTok application.
2. Navigate to your profile page and select the “Settings and privacy” option in the three-line menu.
3. Select “Privacy”, and click on “Sync contacts and Facebook friends”.
4. Toggle off the sync settings across different platforms.

How To Turn Off Location Services on TikTok

TikTok also has permission to access your location for videos you want to geo-tag. However, this puts your location at risk of hackers and creeps.

You can turn this off in your privacy settings in the following steps:

1. Navigate to your profile page.
2. Select the “Settings and privacy” option in the three-line menu.
3. Click on “Privacy” and then select “Allow location access”.
4. Your in-app location settings will open, where you can toggle off the permission TikTok has.

How To Select Who Can Message You on TikTok

If your account is public, you can still manage who can send you a direct message on the platform. This will help ward off cyberbullies from texting you.

Follow these steps to manage your message settings:

1. Launch the TikTok application.
2. Navigate to your profile page and select “Settings and privacy” in the three-line menu.
3. Select “Privacy” and click “Direct messages”.
4. Select from the options of who you’d like to send you messages.

How To Manage Stitch, Duets, Comments, and Download Settings

You can also select who can interact with the videos you post on the page. Follow these steps on your Android or iOS device:

1. Launch the TikTok app and navigate to your profile page.
2. Select the “Settings and privacy” option in the menu.
3. Navigate to “Privacy”.
4. Select “Stitch, Duets, Comments, or Downloads” to select who can interact with your videos in these settings.

Conclusion

With these settings, you’ll have absolute control over the privacy of your account, content, and settings.

However, remain security conscious and report whoever infringes on your privacy regardless of your settings.