TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms today! And you’ve probably seen the Friends Only tag on some TikTok videos and wondered what it means. Is it some exclusive club you’re missing out on? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Lots of people are confused about the Friends Only label, especially since TikTok doesn’t exactly have a friends list like other social networks. But it’s actually pretty simple. Friends Only on TikTok just means the video is only visible to people the creator has followed and those who follow the creator back. So it’s a great way to limit viewers rather than a special group you have to get invited to join. In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about going Friends Only on TikTok and when creators use this feature.
Understanding TikTok’s Friends Only Privacy Setting
What Exactly Does Friends Only Mean?
Friends only means that only people who you follow and those who follow you back can view the TikTok videos you post. When you change the privacy setting of your video to friends only, your videos will no longer be visible to random TikTok users or show up on the For You page. Instead, your content is private and can only be seen by users you’ve friended.
Why Would You Want to Use the Friends Only Setting?
There are a few reasons why you may want to enable the “Friends only” setting:
- Privacy. If you want to share personal moments or inside jokes with close friends without the whole world seeing, friends only is perfect. You get to be selective about who views your content. This is one of the main reasons why people choose to share content with Friends Only. Your “Friends only” videos will not get indexed by search engines, either.
- Avoiding unwanted interactions. Switching your video’s privacy to friends only prevents random users from commenting on your videos. It gives you more control over who engages with your content.
- Building a closer community. When your profile is open only to select friends, it fosters a tighter-knit group. Your friends will feel like they’re part of an exclusive club and engage more with your content. In turn, you can build closer relationships and a more engaged community with them on TikTok.
How Do You Share Videos for Friends Only?
Posting videos on TikTok, which only your friends can see, is quite simple. Just follow the step-by-step process mentioned below to do this:
- Open the TikTok app
- Tap on the post new video button at the bottom
- Tap on the upload button or record your video and press the tick button
- Tap next
- Tap settings
- Here, you can select who can view this post. Select Friends
- Tap next
- Add a description for your video and tap post
As you can see, it’s very easy to post videos for Friends Only. Friends only provides an easy way to share more private moments with real life friends on TikTok while avoiding unwanted interactions from random users. By creating a smaller, tighter-knit community, you can build closer relationships and connections with friends on the platform. For many users, friends only is the perfect balance of sharing and privacy on TikTok. Your Friends only videos will be visible to your friends via the “Friends Tab” on TikTok. You can also start live videos on TikTok with a “Friends only” privacy setting.
If you do not want to change the settings for each video you post to “Friends only”, then you can change your TikTok profile to a private profile. Once you have a private account, only those who have followed you can see your videos, but remember that those whom you have not followed back can still see your videos if they have followed you unless you change the video’s privacy settings to “Friends only”. Once you change your TikTok account to a private account, anyone who searches for your profile will not be able to see your content except for your profile photo unless you accept their follow request.
Who Can See Friends Only Content on TikTok?
If you tag your TikTok video as “Friends Only”, only users you’ve followed and those who have followed you back on the app will be able to see it.
Your videos will be shown to your followers on TikTok by default, so they’ll automatically have access to any content you post. If you have a public account and want to limit a video to just your actual friends and not your followers, be sure to double-check that the “Friends Only” option is selected in your video settings when you upload it.
The Pros and Cons of a Friends Only TikTok
Build Your Close Circle
Having a Friends Only TikTok means you can curate who sees your content and build connections with people you actually know and trust. Your videos won’t be visible to random strangers scrolling through the For You page. This can help you feel more comfortable posting casually without worrying how it might be perceived by a wider audience. Within your friends group, you can develop inside jokes, give each other shoutouts, and support each other’s content.
Limit Outside Judgment
With a private profile, you don’t have to worry as much about outside opinions and judgment. Your videos are shared only with people who understand you and your sense of humor. This freedom can inspire you to post more spontaneously without overthinking how it might be received by strangers. You can feel free to be your authentic self without pressure to gain likes and followers.
Miss Out on New Connections
The main downside of a Friends Only video is that the visibility of your posts will be limited only to people who you’ve followed and those who have followed you back. You lose the opportunity to show your video to new people and gain a wider viewership. Your content won’t be seen by anyone outside your existing friends group, so your reach and engagement will be limited. Other TikTok content creators who are not friends will also not be able to see your videos. If you aspire to become an influencer or collaborate with brands, a video that everyone can see is really the only way to boost your views. You have to be willing to open yourself up to both praise and criticism from strangers to gain more visibility.
What Does Friends Only Mean on TikTok? Common Questions Answered
TikTok’s “Friends Only” feature allows you to limit who can see your TikTok content. When you turn on “Friends Only” mode, only people you’ve followed and those who follow you back can view your TikTok videos.
Why would I want to enable Friends Only mode?
There are a few reasons why you might want to limit your TikTok visibility:
Privacy
Enabling Friends Only mode gives you more control over your privacy on TikTok. Only the people you choose as friends will be able to see your video. Your activity and information won’t be visible to random TikTok users or people you don’t know.
Avoid unwanted attention
Friends Only mode can help prevent unwanted attention from strangers on TikTok. By limiting who can see your videos, you reduce the chance of getting inappropriate comments, messages, or abuse from random users.
Stay connected with close friends
For some TikTokers, the app is a way to stay connected with close friends. Friends Only mode lets you share videos with just your closest friends on TikTok without worrying about others seeing your inside jokes or personal conversations.
Conclusion
So there you have it. The “friends only” setting on TikTok is a way to make your videos more private and limit who can see your content. It doesn’t necessarily mean you only want friends watching, but rather that you want more control over your audience. While it can help reduce unwanted attention, it also limits your potential reach. Ultimately, it comes down to your comfort level to share content publicly versus privately. Don’t stress too much about the setting – find what works for you, your goals, and your audience. The most important thing is that you’re creating content you’re proud of and sharing your creativity with people who appreciate it. Now get out there and make some awesome TikToks!