We all know the power of social media, but that doesn’t mean it should completely take over our lives. Sometimes we must take a break from it all – even if only for a little while. That’s why knowing how to delete a TikTok account is so important.
TikTok was developed in China, launched in 2016, and then released for markets outside China in 2017 by ByteDance. Compared to other social media apps, it's had a relatively short run. The United States has attempted to ban TikTok on multiple occasions for privacy concerns.
TikTok has grown to the seventh most popular social media app and has over 1 billion daily users. So if you’re looking to take a break from the world of TikTok and delete your account, there are some steps you can take. Before we get into that, though, it's essential to know why you might want to delete your account in the first place.
Why is TikTok Popular?
At first glance, TikTok may not seem like much. It's a short-form video app filled with lip-syncing and dance challenges. But there's more to TikTok than meets the eye. For one thing, TikTok is incredibly easy to use. You can watch videos without creating an account; the interface is intuitive and straightforward.
But more importantly, TikTok is extremely fun. It's a great way to kill a few minutes, and it's also a great way to discover new music and trends. In a world where social media can often overwhelm, TikTok offers a refreshingly positive and light-hearted escape. It's no wonder the app has been so popular with users of all ages.
Why Delete a TikTok Account?
TikTok has become a powerful platform that many businesses, influencers, content creators, and everyday users enjoy. But it's also possible to become overwhelmed by the amount of content on it. Perhaps your business strategies on the platform aren't performing as well as you hoped.
There are many valid reasons to delete your TikTok account. Whatever your reasons are, you should know how to delete your account. Deleting a TikTok account is best done using the TikTok app.
The TikTok mobile app is available on iOS and Android, and the deletion process is relatively straightforward with either.
How to Download Your TikTok Data
Before you delete your TikTok account, you should save your TikTok data depending on how active you've been on the platform. Your first question may be: “Why do I want to save my data if I delete my account?” Many content creators, influencers, and businesses utilize content as often as possible, including recycling older content and repurposing it for other social media accounts.
If you want to save your TikTok data before account deletion, downloading or exporting it is best. To download your entire account information, you'll first need to request it. Start by going to your profile and tapping on the three line icon in the top right corner.
Tap Settings and Privacy next and choose Account from the list of menu options.
You'll want to choose Download your Data from the list of options; the following menu allows you to request or download your data.
First, select the Request Data option; you can read over the information, but it lists the data the app has collected while using it. Next, you can select a human-readable text file or JSON format for your data; the time it takes the app to compile your data can vary, but once it's done, you can download the data.
Once you have downloaded your data from the manage account control area, it's safe to delete TikTok.
How to Delete a TikTok Account
Deleting your TikTok account is easy and can be done in just a few simple steps. The process is mostly the same as downloading your data. First, make sure you're signed in to the TikTok app. You'll also be allowed to deactivate if you want to keep your TikTok account but take a little break.
Tap Account and then tap Delete account or choose to Deactivate. Once you select the Delete account option, you will be asked why you're leaving TikTok and given several options. Choose your reasoning, and depending on your selection, TikTok will make suggestions to improve your experience.
Next, TikTok lets you download your data if you haven't already. If you already have, skip this step and tap Continue to finalize and delete your account. Once you accept the final prompt, your account is destined for deletion. You can cancel the process by reactivating your account within 30 days.
How to Deactivate a TikTok Account
If you're not ready to delete your account just yet but want a break from the app, you can always deactivate it. Note that if you deactivate your account, you must reactivate it within 30 days, or TikTok will permanently delete it.
To deactivate a TikTok account, follow the same steps above; tap on Account in the Settings and Privacy menu. Next, select Deactivate or Delete Account, and choose the deactivation option; the deactivation process requires fewer steps.
When you choose to Deactivate your account, TikTok will ask if you're sure you want to deactivate your account. First, confirm that you wish to deactivate your account; after that, you're good to go.
What Happens When You Delete TikTok
When you delete your TikTok account, it's gone forever. You will no longer have access to your profile page, data, videos, virtual purchases, likes, etc. In addition, you will lose anything associated with your profile forever; you won't have access to any of it once the deletion process is complete.
Can You Recover a Deleted TikTok Account?
Unfortunately, you can't recover a deleted TikTok account once it's past the 30-day reactivation window. This is because the data associated with the account is permanently gone from the app, and there's no way to recover it. If you want a break from the app, deactivating your account is always an option. It's an excellent way to take a break without losing all your data.
If you decide to delete your TikTok account, take the time to export or download all your data. This means your profile picture, contact info, and private communication with other users. This will give you a record of your information, so you can look back on it after deleting your account. Just make sure to do this before you click the final confirmation button. If you delete your account and want it back, reactivate it before 30 days, or you're out of luck.
Is TikTok in Danger of Becoming Ad-Driven and Losing its Users?
TikTok, like many other social media platforms, has become increasingly ad-driven in recent years; this means a steady influx of ads that can be intrusive and take away from the user experience.
As a result, some users find the ads too much and opt to delete their accounts. For some context, Reuters speculates that TikTok's ad revenue will triple and exceed $11 billion, making it higher than Twitter and Snapchat combined.
The success of TikTok's digital advertising has confounded many experts, as the same seems to be hurting other social media giants like Google and Meta. While TikTok still isn't immune from the negative aspects of digital advertising, they are stealing business from rivals while succeeding where they are failing. TikTok may be doing so well in digital advertising because their ads aren't perceived as ads.
Let's be clear: the ads posted on TikTok are certainly trying to sell you something, but they appear more natural. To quote a New York Times article, TikTok has told its partners not to make ads but to make TikToks. As a result, most of the ads on the app appear as regular TikTok videos.
If you've ever been on the platform, then you know this to be true. There may be subtle attempts at selling a product, but for the most part, it's hard to tell when someone is selling you something.
As TikTok continues to become more ad-driven, some users may end up deleting their accounts. Therefore, the app must maintain the balance between ads and user experience. If they can do this, TikTok will remain popular even as it moves further into digital advertising.
Related Content
- How to Delete a Facebook Account
- How to Delete a Gmail Account
- How to Delete a LinkedIn Account
- How to Delete an Instagram Account
- How to Delete Your Twitter Account
How to Delete a TikTok Account Wrap-up
Deleting a TikTok account is possible, but there are things to consider before deciding. Once you delete your account, it's deleted permanently after 30 days, and there's no way to recover any of the data associated with the account. Deactivating your account is better if you need a break from the app.
If you're a business owner or influencer, it's important to remember that your fame and following on the app are also at stake. So it's best to take a step back and think before you delete your account. TikTok has gained success due to its ad balance and style of content creation, but this could lead to users deleting their accounts if the app loses its balance. Consider these points before you click delete.
