TikTok stands at the 2 billion mark in terms of monthly active users and Instagram leads the pack with 3 billion. But the TikTok user base is much more valuable than Instagram because of the higher time spent (50% more) and engagement rate (almost 3x of Insta). These staggering numbers make TikTok the most loved app for content creators.
The influencers on the app see massive followings from all parts of the world. And this also attracts unwanted visitors – cybercriminals. Given its high user base, the influencers create amazing content, which helps them make a cool amount of money. This visibility exposes them to unexpected risks, making ‘how to stay safe on TikTok’ a hot topic.
Follow strong login practices
For every influencer on TikTok, safety begins with strong login practices. TikTok offers strong security features in every area, and one of them is the passkey, which has been rolled out recently. On both iOS and Android devices, biometric-based login is promoted. Face ID, fingerprint and PIN methods to log into the app are part of its zero-trust security approach. Since there are no passwords used for logging in, even AI-based attacks fail to make an impact. Besides these, influencers can also use authenticator apps and hardware security keys to ensure total security of their TikTok accounts.
The passkeys rollout offers unmatched security, but despite best efforts, there are times when accounts are compromised. In these situations, warning signs of suspicious activity should be observed carefully by the influencers. Knowing what are the possible red flags in case an attack has led to the takeover of your account to some or another degree goes a long way in minimizing the damage caused. The Moonlock has a comprehensive guide on early indicators of a TikTok hacking attempt and steps to take to ensure total recovery of the account. It’s a must-have guide for every influencer on the app.
Be careful with personal information sharing
There are influencers whose nature of content requires them to share a small or even a major part of their lives with their audiences. The exposure can be used by hackers to form patterns, which are finally used by them for hacking attempts. Be mindful of what to share and when to post so that patterns cannot be formed.
Manage privacy settings
How to use TikTok safely with its built-in privacy features? It can be done by making the best use of privacy features. With its Jan 2026 updates that introduced a ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ model. Under this, the platform collects data like GPS location and off-platform tracking more smartly to analyze user behavior. This makes restricting certain permissions when not necessary. Besides the platform tracking, restrict who can message you, control duets and stitches, filter comments and minimize follower interaction.
Watch out for phishing messages
As one of the top social media platforms, TikTok is now a hotspot for advanced scams. As an influencer, numerous fake brand deals and collaboration offers that look legit will be sent your way. An example of this is a request from someone that asks influencers to ‘log in to our site to see the deal/offer.’ It’s a scam that has duped many influencers. Be careful while being redirected to outside platforms or links that are from unknown sources.
Protect your content as intellectual property
Content theft is a menace faced by almost all influencers, especially in times when AI has made content repurposing super easy. Videos are downloaded, edited and posted on other platforms without any permission. User-generated data is in a way traded across platforms. To keep your content safe, understand how repurposing is done, track various sites from time to time and report suspicious accounts that use them.
Limit third-party app access
From content editing to AI and analytics to brand management, there are tens of tools influencers use to make the best use of the TikTok app. Tying up with various apps and software leads to increased security risks. It’s important to understand the difference between legit and illegit third-party apps. When logging in through a legit app, its secure authentication process will not ask for a password. Instead, it will take you through the TikTok login page while using token-based access. To ensure account safety:
● Connect only with legit apps – ones from trusted developers
● Review the permissions carefully before providing access
● Remove unrequired integrations regularly
● Do not punch in your TikTok password in a third-party interface
● Use account recovery and backup options
TikTok has recently come up with a friend-based account recovery system. As a part of TikTok’s decentralized approach, this shift helps you verify your ID through trusted contacts on the apps. In addition to this, back up your content regularly on other drives and preferably use cloud storage.
Conclusion
TikTok keeps introducing new safety features to protect its users from possible hackings. The app has seen some major breaches, but still, the onus of safety lies more on the user. Influencers should keep this in mind and follow the best practices to ensure the highest level of digital security of their IDs, content and privacy on the platform.
