Platform
How to Deactivate TikTok: A Step-by-Step Guide for Users
Whether you are concerned about data privacy, or you are bringing in more revenue from other social media influencing platforms, if you want to deactivate the TikTok app, below is a step by step guide.
How to Deactivate TikTok
Quick Answer- You can deactivate your TikTok account by accessing the “Manage account” option, and then subsequently selecting “Delete” or “Yes”, after clicking the “Delete account” tab.
- Open the TikTok app on your device
- Sign in (if needed)
- Click on the “profile” icon located in the bottom right corner
- Tap on the menu (three dash lines) icon, in the top right corner
- Select “Settings and Privacy”
- Choose the first option “Manage account”
- Then click “Delete account”
- (Optional) TikTok will ask you “Why are you leaving TikTok?”. You can select any of the reasons mentioned on the page – or
- Press the “Skip” option in the top right corner
- (Important) TikTok will ask you to “Download your TikTok data”. Click the “Request download” option mentioned in red at the end of the page, if you have not already taken a backup of your media files (further details below)
- Select the option which reads “By continuing you reviewed your data request and wish to continue deleting your account” at the very end of the page. The text is written in dim fonts. After you select this
- Press the red button which reads “Continue”
- A confirmation page will open up, in which TikTok leaving policies will be mentioned. Click the “Continue” button in the red
- Enter the 6 digit code. (You will be asked to confirm your identity by entering a 6 digit code which TikTok will send to your mobile number linked with the app.)
- Tap on the red button which reads “Delete account”
- Press “Delete” upon confirmation
This will deactivate your TikTok account for 30 days.
Does deactivating TikTok delete it?
After you have deactivated the app, TikTok gives you 30 days to reactivate your account.
If you reactivate it within this time period, all your media files, along with the followers, likes, user comments and even your personalized app settings will be restored.
Post 30 days after deactivation, TikTok will delete your account and all the performance data from its servers and you will no longer be able to access any of your media or traction.
If you want to permanently delete the app and no longer intend to use it, then backing up your data while deactivating it is very crucial.
Backup Your Data before deactivating
When you deactivate the account, TikTok allows you to download all your data.
After you have completed the 10th step (marked “Important”) in the Step by Step guide mentioned above, follow these additional steps to download your data –
- Click on the “Request data” option mentioned in red (TikTok will allow you to download “Your profile”, Your activity” and “Your app settings”)
- Tap the “Request data file” button in the red at the end of the page, (you will receive a msg (on the app) confirming your data request, and a new page will show you the status of your data.)
- After your data is processed and approved, the status will change to “Download” from “Pending”. Click the “Download” option.
This will download all your media files on your device.
Note – The download data option will only be available for 4 days. If you do not download within this time limit, you will not be able to backup your files.
What if I missed it?
In case you missed this option, reactivate your account within the 30 days period. Upon activating, you will have all your data files restored in the app.
After activating, follow the same deactivation procedure, and request data (mentioned in the steps above).
Post 30 days from deactivation, you will have no option to request or backup your data.
For further details, check out TikTok’s support page.
Why are you leaving TikTok? Weigh the Pros and Cons
For Influncers
Leaving aside the small hitches and glitches (like your device running out of memory, or hanging a lot), as an influencer your decision to deactivate TikTok should primarily concern Revenue and Data Privacy.
Revenue
Earlier this year (07-Jan-2022), Forbes posted an article on “Top Earning TikTokers”, in which it includes some fascinating facts about the app:
“As TikTok has grown to over a billion users worldwide, businesses like Amazon, Louis Vuitton and McDonald’s have bought such ads. The TikTok stars can charge as much as a half million dollars for a single post, though most generally earn an average of between $100,000 to $250,00 per post, more than double the rates from that previous list in 2020.”
Ad revenues are projected to grow even further in 2024, with reports indicating that it has already surpassed Twitter and Snapchat earnings combined.
Below is an extract from the Insider Intelligence’s report, published in April 2022.
“TikTok will grow its net ad revenues in the US by an astounding 184.4% this year to hit $5.96 billion. The app’s ad revenues will settle into a double-digit growth trajectory starting next year and top $11 billion in 2024.”
As an influencer, TikTok is one of the leading social media platforms for you to generate revenue.
Before deactivating the app, you need to weigh whether you can earn more revenue from other platforms or not.
Data Privacy
There have been rising concerns on how TikTok collects and deals with the data of its users.
Read the excerpt below from an article published by wired.co.uk on TikTok’s data privacy.
“TikTok knows the device you are using, your location, IP address, search history, the content of your messages, what you’re viewing and for how long. It also collects device identifiers to track your interactions with advertisers. TikTok “infers” factors such as your age range, gender and interests based on the information it has about you. In the US, TikTok can collect biometric information including face and voiceprints.”
There are even rumors on whether different countries are going to allow TikTok or not. Check out America’s policies on dealing with TikTok in this article – “Will TikTok Ever Get Banned in America?”.
These reports are alarming to all its users. But being an influencer you remain at the forefront of data privacy and data leak concerns.
Before deactivating TikTok, you need to weigh which app or social media platform is best for you in terms of data privacy.
However if you are planning to continue with TikTok, then play safe. Check out some of the “Safe Tips For (TikTok) Users”.
For Users
As the app (TikTok) is rising in popularity, social and civil problems are also increasing.
Other than the data privacy issue, mentioned earlier in the post, there are many other reasons why users want to deactivate and delete the app.
Some of them are –
- As an individual it opens up a lot about one’s personal life.
- Nudity, inappropriate content, and viral challenges can have adverse influences, especially on younger users.
- Too much screen time leads to anxiety and other health disorders. (source)
- A lot of minors and teenagers are facing cyberbullying issues.
As a user you need to recognise that TikTok is a platform where individuals can showcase their talents, and it is a medium for fun and entertainment and not to promote violence and illegal activities.
While signing up for or deactivating these apps, it is important to balance your social media footprint.
