How to Hide Who You Follow on TikTok: 2 Super Simple Ways
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So, you want to know how to hide who you follow on TikTok.
When you create your TikTok profile page, the default setting is to show which TikTok users you follow along with those who follow you. But there are a couple of ways you can hide your following list if you want.
We'll quickly cover each below.
Contents
How to Hide Who You Follow on TikTok
There are two ways to hide your following list on TikTok.
The two methods are:
- Changing your privacy settings
- Switching to a private account
Determining what level of privacy you would like to have on the TikTok app will help you decide which method to use. We break down both ways below.
How to Change Your Privacy Settings
Here are the step-by-step instructions on changing your privacy settings to hide your following list:
Open TikTok and go to your profile page.
In the top right corner, tap the three horizontal lines. This will open up a menu at the bottom of your screen.
Tap Settings and Privacy.
Under the Account section, tap Privacy.
Scroll down until you find the Interactions section.
Tap Following list.
Change your settings from "Everyone" to "Only me."
Changing your status to "Only me" means that your following list is now private to you.
Now, other users will only see the mutual friends you have. Other users will not be able to see the entire list of accounts you follow.
How to Switch to a Private Account on TikTok
The second way to hide your following list is by changing your public account to a private one.
Here are the step-by-step instructions to switch to a private account:
Open the TikTok app and go to your profile.
Tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner of the page. These three lines will cause a menu to pop up at the bottom of your screen.
Tap Settings and Privacy.
Under the Account section, tap Privacy.
Under the Discoverability section, there will be an option that says Private account. Tap the slider to make your account private.
This means your following list will only be viewable to people who already follow you. If you don't want certain followers seeing your following list, you will need to manually remove them as a follow.
Furthermore, you will have to approve any new follow requests, too.
However, keep in mind that making your account private will alter other settings on your TikTok account.
What Does It Mean To Have a Private Account on TikTok?
When choosing between having to make your account public or private, you need to know what it actually means to have a private TikTok account.
Having a private TikTok profile means that you approve every profile that wants to follow you.
You're approving which accounts can:
- See your videos
- Watch your LIVE videos
- See your followers and following list
- Duet and stitch your videos
- Download your videos
This would mean that collaborating with influencers would not be effective with a private TikTok account.
Before switching from a public account to a private one, ensure you're on board with these other settings changes to your TikTok account.
Why Do People Hide Their Following List on TikTok?
Here are a few reasons why someone would want to hide their following list from other users on the TikTok app. We review them in detail below.
To Maintain a Level of Privacy on Social Media
Many people want to remain private while still experiencing the benefits of social media. They don't want everyone else knowing what they're up to, but they still want to be able to consume content.
Hiding your following list is another way you can maintain a low profile on the TikTok app.
To Hide From Their Parents or Other Family Members
Whether it's teenagers trying to hide their activity from their parents or even adults who don't want their nosy extended family members watching their every move, many people choose to hide who they follow on TikTok from members of their family.
When it comes to parents, kids, and social media, there is still a lot to learn.
To Maintain a Professional Appearance
In today's corporate landscape, employers often analyze a potential job candidate's social media presence before considering them for a position. From the tweets you've favorited to what you post on Instagram, everything about your social media presence is up for review.
Additionally, every TikTok account you follow might not be the most professional. This would cause you to want to hide your following list on TikTok from future employers. You're not alone in wanting to do this: nearly half of employees are hiding their social media from employers.
To Hide How You Get Your Followers
Some TikTok accounts engage in the practice of follow-for-following. This means that if someone follows you, you will follow them back. It also means that if you follow someone, you're expecting them to follow you back.
You can usually tell when someone is engaging in this type of practice when their follower count and following list are similar in numbers. Some people might not want their followers to know they're doing this because then it discredits their seemingly large following.
To Establish an Elusive Appearance
One of the coolest things high-profile social media users like to do is only follow one account. This helps them maintain both their elite status and elusiveness.
Following only one account gives you the appearance of being better than the rest because you only want to see content from one person. It says that you've seen everything you need to see and the rest you only want to see from one person. It also makes the person appear more elusive because it gives you very little insight into their interests.
If you want to learn how to get more views on TikTok, you will need to decide for yourself if hiding your following list is the best idea.
Blocking People on TikTok
If you only want to prevent one person from seeing your TikTok following list and interacting with your profile, you can simply block them instead.
Blocking them will stop them from being able to see and interact with your account entirely.
However, blocking someone is more of an extreme measure than the other two options we've discussed.
If that person realizes that you blocked them, they're going to think you have something to hide. They might even ask a friend if they can visit your profile and maybe a video or two from their TikTok account.
You know that if you notice someone blocking you on TikTok, you would be curious too.
For these reasons, this isn't a solution for all situations. But it's another option to consider when you want to hide your following list from a specific user.
How to Hide Who You Follow on TikTok in Closing
Depending on the privacy level you would like, you can now choose one of our methods for hiding who you follow on TikTok. No matter your reason for wanting to hide your following list, we've presented you with two ways to make it happen!
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