7 Key TikTok Privacy Tips for Secure Social Media

South Korean pop star and BTS member Jung Kook discovered the significance of TikTok's privacy settings in an unexpected way. Follow these expert tips to secure your TikTok account and avoid similar mistakes.

The Origins of TikTok

TikTok was launched in September 2016 by the Chinese tech company ByteDance under the name "Douyin" for the Chinese market. It was introduced to the international market as TikTok in 2018 after merging with the popular app Musical.ly.

Initially, TikTok focused on short lip-sync and dance videos. This versatility has helped TikTok capture a global audience.

Key Features of TikTok

TikTok offers a range of features designed to enhance user engagement and content creation. Some of the most notable features include:

• For You Page (FYP): A personalized feed of recommended videos.
• Duets: A feature that allows users to interact with another video.
• Filters and Effects: Tools to enhance video appearance.

The platform also includes robust editing tools that allow users to trim videos, add music, and incorporate transitions. These features make it easy for anyone to create polished content.

Understanding the TikTok Algorithm

The TikTok algorithm is a sophisticated system that personalizes content for each user. It takes into account various factors such as user interactions, video information, and device/account settings to recommend videos that suit individual preferences.

Frequent engagement with specific types of content will further tailor your feed. For instance, if you often watch cooking videos, the algorithm will display more culinary content on your For You Page (FYP).

Tips for Creating Engaging Content

To make your TikTok content stand out, consider the following tips:

• Keep it short and captivating.
• Use trending sounds and hashtags.
• Collaborate with other creators.

Engagement is key on TikTok. Responding to comments and interacting with other users' content can help increase your visibility and build a loyal following.

The TikTok Revelation

Jeon Jungkook, better known as Jung Kook and affectionately called "JK" or "Kookie" by fans, recently had an eye-opening experience regarding TikTok's default privacy settings. The "Seven" singer inadvertently revealed his private account name to fans when he shared a TikTok link on Weverse, a social media platform.

This minor misstep exposed his private account, compromising his anonymity on TikTok. The situation highlights the importance of understanding and using privacy settings effectively. Jung Kook responded with humor, renaming his account "letjungcook7" and promptly adjusting his privacy settings.

Keep Your TikTok Profile Private

While many BTS fans found humor in Jung Kook's situation, there is a valuable lesson to learn: safeguarding your personal information on TikTok is crucial. Here are some essential tips to help you maintain your privacy:

Avoid Sharing Links from Private Accounts

Every time you share a link, TikTok broadcasts your screen name. To keep your private accounts anonymous, refrain from sharing links from these profiles.

Review Your Privacy Settings

Navigate to Settings and Privacy within the TikTok app and select Privacy. From this menu, you can toggle the private account option on or off. A private account ensures that only approved users and followers can view your videos. You can switch back to a public account by toggling the option again.

Disable Account Suggestions and Contact Syncing

If you prefer to keep your TikTok activity low-key, disable account suggestions. Go to the Privacy menu, select "Suggest your account to others," and turn off all options. This prevents unwanted follow requests or content views from acquaintances.

Restrict TikTok's Access to Your Contacts

Within the privacy menu, you can revoke TikTok's access to your phone's contact list. This step enhances your privacy by preventing TikTok from seeing who you are friends with offline.

Customize Your Interaction Settings

Adjust how people interact with you and your content by modifying settings in the Privacy menu. To deter online creeps, keep comments, messaging options, Liked videos, Post view history, and Profile view history turned off. These options are disabled by default. You can also hide your following list from others.

Secure Your TikTok Account with Multi-Factor Authentication

Enable multi-factor authentication in the Security menu to ensure no unauthorized access to your account. You can also view and manage logged-in devices by selecting the Manage Devices tab. Remove any unfamiliar devices.

Update Your Password Regularly

Avoid using the same password across multiple platforms. If you do, now is the time to change it. Consider using a password manager like Dashlane for premium features or Bitwarden for a free option. This way, you don't have to remember or type your passwords manually.

The Social Media Perspective

Although Jung Kook, the youngest BTS member, is not very active on social media, he chose to delete his Instagram account, which had over 52 million followers, in early 2023. At the time of writing, his personal TikTok account remains active and public, allowing fans to view his liked videos.

Minimizing social media presence can be beneficial for anyone, especially those in the public eye. For ordinary users, oversharing can expose you to scammers and jeopardize your security. For example, sharing vacation photos might inadvertently alert potential burglars that your home is unoccupied, and disclosing health issues could lead to future insurance claim complications.