Is TikTok the new LinkedIn? TikTok is currently rolling out a new feature that allows users to see who has viewed their profile, similar to how LinkedIn allows premium users to see who has viewed their profile in the last 30 days. But the new TikTok profile views feature is actually not really new — the app used to have this feature in the past, but removed it in 2020.
This isn’t the first time TikTok has taken inspiration from other social media apps like LinkedIn in terms of expanding its features. Recently, the popular Gen Z app added TikTok Stories, a feature that allows users to post videos that disappear after 24 hours, similar to how Snapchat Stories and Instagram Stories work. Many users are confused about how the feature works though, as it was just released in March.
So, how does the new profile views feature work — and more importantly, how can you deactivate it if you don’t want your ex-bestie to know you were creeping on her TikTok profile? (We all do it, it’s OK.)
How does the new feature work?
Although it is unclear who has access to the feature just yet, as it is still slowly rolling out, TikTok’s support page already has information on how to use the feature. According to the website, “Only accounts that have also turned on this feature and have viewed your profile in the past 30 days will appear in your profile view history. If you visit another account’s profile page and they’ve also turned on this setting, they’ll be able to see that you visited their profile.”
To access the feature, you must be at least 16 years old and have less than 5,000 followers (so I guess JoJo Siwa and Charli D’Amelio can’t see who’s lurking on their accounts).
How do I turn the feature on and off?
According to the TikTok support page, if you have access to the feature, you can easily turn it on and off in the TikTok app on your phone. In the app, tap Profile in the bottom right, and then tap the three-line menu icon in the top right corner to access your settings. Next, tap Settings and Privacy, and then tap Privacy. Scroll to the bottom to find Profile Views, which is next to an eye emoticon. Lastly, tap the toggle to turn the feature on and off — and voila! It’s that easy.
While some people may like the new feature, I’ll personally be keeping it off — I don’t really need my old friends from middle school to see that I’ve been catching up on what they’ve been up to.