How to Make TikTok Account Private

Thuranira John Kobia  - Former Tech Journalist
Last updated: July 31, 2024
Read time: 6 minutes Disclosure
Share

TikTok now sets the underage kids' accounts private by default. But there is more parents and guardians should do to ensure their young ones' privacy on the platform.

THE TAKEAWAYS

TikTok allows users to create either a public or private account. They can also choose to see TikTok private account videos alone. Here is how to make your TikTok account private on computers and mobile devices:

  1. Navigate to your TikTok account profile page.
  2. Tap the three-dot symbol at the top-right corner.
  3. Choose the Privacy and Safety option and select Private Account.
  4. That is it.

When you create a TikTok profile, the app automatically creates a public account, making it easy to grow your viewers, likes, and followers. However, you can make your TikTok account private if you want to restrict or don’t want people to watch your videos.

After making your account private, your old followers will still follow you, but new users will have to send you a request to watch your content.

In this article, we will explain to you how to make your TikTok private.

Is TikTok safe?

Like any other social media account, TikTok also carries its fair share of risks. TikTok can be safe for kids, provided parents supervise them. Kids between 13 and 15 years old with TikTok accounts tend to have a private account by default.

For this reason, only friends can comment, duet, and share their views. This is one way to determine how to make all videos private on TikTok at once. Yet, they should be monitored continually.

There is also a Restricted Mode, which can be found in the TikTok privacy settings. It allows parents to control some activities children do. Because TikTok is another risky social network, parents can make it safe for kids.

How does TikTok work?

First, mobile users can download the TikTok app before registering. There is also a web version where you sign up for a TikTok account.

Similar to most social and chat applications, users have to sign up. TikTok requires users to provide their phone numbers or email addresses to create an account. Third-party accounts, such as Facebook, can also be used to create accounts.

The account allows you to specify which video to watch. Begin by searching popular creators, categories, or hashtags to find videos. The app will enable you to follow some users and monitor their uploads.

You may begin making your videos and share them with other users. However, not everyone creates and shares videos on TikTok. Some people follow content creators to enjoy their videos.

SEE ALSO: How to unblock TikTok at places it’s blocked

Following its launch in 2016, TikTok has become among the top social platforms worldwide. It has grown tremendously over the years. By October 2018, it had over 500 million monthly active users. The U.S. became among the most popular countries, with over 80 million downloads.

As per the August 2020 data, the short-video platform has almost 100 million monthly active users in the US alone.

Celebrity endorsements are one reason why TikTok has gained popularity quickly. Several celebrities have fueled the app’s success. Besides, the company launched various partnerships with top celebrities. This has influenced more people to join TikTok.

Another fundamental driving factor is its strong focus on localized content. The app runs on local contests and challenges through hashtags. For instance, it runs the ‘1 million auditions’ globally but separately.

Users can only record pleasant videos and share them with ease. It also includes different effects and filters that are exciting to users. More so, the video plays once the user opens his or her private TikTok account. The addictive nature of these short videos attracts more people to the platform.

At Privacysavvy.com, we recommend the app for those aged 15+. That is because of privacy concerns and mature content. According to TikTok, users with at least 13 years of experience can have a TikTok account.

Still, there exist other means for younger children to own an account. Those under 18 should remain under the control of parents or guardians. But the bitter truth is that more kids globally use TikTok without adult supervision.

How fitting is TikTok for kids?

TikTok is unsuitable for kids despite having a few child-friendly videos. Most videos on the platform include sexual or nudity. Some videos cover inappropriate topics that are unrecommended for kids.

Although TikTok emphasizes popular music, it is easy to find videos that are unideal to kids. Kids using TikTok can readily stumble on such videos. When this happens, parents understand the consequences better.

Parents can alleviate such events by becoming vigilant about what kids watch on TikTok. Make them stick to ‘clean’ songs and appropriate videos. And this can make TikTok kid-friendly.

Can kids under 13 still use TikTok?

Besides parental supervision, TikTok has a section for kids under 13. It enables this group to use the app but with added restrictions. The section includes extra safety and privacy features suitable for kids under 13.

For this reason, kids can only watch appropriate and curated videos on the app. Again, it restricts commenting, kids posting videos, and searching specific videos.

But still, these features have their downsides, too. Kids can bypass it by providing a fake birthday. At times, it isn’t perfect, hence unappealing for most kids.

Another detrimental thing is that these features are only available in the United States. It means other kids globally can still access inappropriate content in the app.

How do I delete a TikTok video from my kid’s TikTok account? 

First, you must select the video you need to delete from your kid’s account. Tap on the three dots in the bottom-right corner. Choose the Delete option, which is represented by a trash can icon.

TikTok will ask if you know your choice before the video gets deleted. Afterward, the video will disappear from the kid’s profile.

If other users have downloaded your video, it will remain in their storage. It is essential to adjust your privacy settings to avoid such cases.

How do I delete my kid’s TikTok account?

Deleting a TikTok account requires you to follow the following simple steps:

  • On your TikTok profile page, click on the three dots you see in the top-right corner.
  • Tap on Manage My Account. Add an active phone number if you have yet to include one.
  • Once you add your number, you will see the option “Delete my account.”
  • Tap on the option, and a new page will open. Enter the verification code sent by TikTok on your phone and click Continue.
  • You will get an alert and a reconfirmation regarding account deletion before the platform removes it. Confirm your deletion and tap Delete Account.

That is, your account will no longer be active.

Note that the platform gives you 30 days as a grace period. This means that in 30 days if you wish, you can get all your followers and old videos back by reactivating the account. Your deleted account will be gone forever if you decide not to reactivate it after 30 days of deactivation.

How can I supervise my kid’s activities on TikTok?

TikTok has a Restricted Mode to allow parents to restrict what kids can access in the app. Besides this, it is left to the parent. The best option is to share the TikTok account with your kid.

This helps you monitor what kids do both in viewing and posting. If you have older kids, learn about their favorite content creator in TikTok.

Does TikTok have parental controls?

TikTok incorporates parental controls in the app. The goal is to help parents to restrict what kids access. Besides, it filters content while protecting the settings with a password.

It is an excellent approach to limiting what your kids watch on TikTok. Here are parental control features on TikTok:

  • Screen Time Management: The feature limits users from spending more than two hours on the app. As a parent, you can limit it to 40 minutes.
  • Restriction Mode: This blocks mature content by filtering content for kids. It ensures kids access appropriate content only.
  • Family Pairing: You can choose to pair your kid’s TikTok account with yours using this feature. Tap on the three dots, select Family and Pairing, and sync. Connect using the QR code to see what your kid watches. Learning how to make a TikTok video private and secure for your kids is essential.
Share this article

About the Author

Thuranira John Kobia

Thuranira John Kobia

Former Tech Journalist
13 Posts

Thuranira is a privacy expert who is always excited about security empowerment through technology. He loves sharing his tech expertise with everyday users so that they can enjoy a better life online.

More from Thuranira John Kobia

Comments

No comments.