How To Delete All Your Data From TikTok

How can I delete my data from TikTok? Find out how to easily send them a deletion request, for free.

Delete your personal data from TikTok

Rightly, Champions of Data, empowers you to easily and securely manage your personal online data.

Tiktok has been in multiple scrapes over loss and misuse of data. In 2021 lawyers alleged that TikTok was taking children's personal information, including phone numbers, videos, exact location and biometric data, without sufficient warning, transparency or the necessary consent required by law, and without children or parents knowing what is being done with that information. In 2019, the Chinese firm was fined $5.7m (£4.7m) for mishandling children’s data. In 2020, 235 million social media profiles, including many TikTok accounts, were exposed on a database controlled by a third party. TikTok has also been accused of harvesting facial recognition data and there have been some reports about concerns over links to the Chinese government.

On this page we’ll explain why it’s a good idea to get your data deleted from TikTok and how to go about it. Or if you just want to get started, click the Start Now button which will take you directly to our Rightly Protect service, enabling you to find out who has your data and get it deleted, quickly and for free.

Can I delete my data from TikTok?

Yes you can! You have the right to ask any company to delete all the data they hold on you and they have to comply within 30 days. This right flows from GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) legislation and if companies don’t comply without a valid reason, they can be in trouble.

How do I delete data from TikTok?

The easiest way to get your data deleted from companies like TikTok is to use our Rightly Protect service. In addition to picking TikTok and asking them to erase your data, you can use our service to analyse your email inbox to figure out all the companies that have your data. Then, you can ask all of them to delete the data they hold on you in one click. Because many companies have your data, even companies you’ve never heard of, and it often runs into hundreds or even thousands of organisations putting your data at risk.

How long until TikTok responds?

TikTok should reply within one calendar month. If they have genuine reasons that they need extra time to consider your request, they can take up to an extra two months - but they should let you know within one month that they need more time and the reasons why. If you’re unhappy with how they respond, you can make a complaint to TikTok and then if you’re still unhappy, you can complain to the ICO (Information Commissioner’s office).

Does TikTok actually delete your data?

Yes, it’s a legal requirement. After one calendar month has passed since your account deletion request, your account and all of your information will be permanently erased by TikTok, and you will not be able to retrieve it.

What type of data does TikTok store on me?

TikTok can collect a wide range of data from registered users:

● Names and passwords of account holders

● Captured content, such as photos and videos

● Data that links users to the photos they took, tagged or liked

● Metadata on how people use the TikTok mobile app

● Facial recognition data

● Data on which devices are linked to which accounts

● Geolocational data

● Bank details

● Credit and debit card information

What does TikTok do with my data?

TikTok’s main motive for building a data set around each user is to personalise the ads that show up on your feed and elsewhere. Ad targeting changes are made based on a lot of different data: your personal account info, your usage patterns, your location, and more.

But it’s not just your data that shapes your ad feed: TikTok compiles the same kinds of data from a variety of users and uses it to optimise when and where it shows you certain ads on other platforms. The additional data that TikTok collects helps the company to perform strategic market research, communicate directly with users, and counter suspected misuse.

Why delete my data from TikTok?

TikTok has suffered a series of breach attempts and there can be little doubt that hackers will continue attempts to compromise your personal data.

If you’re not using TikTok any more, or think a fresh profile would be a good thing, you can instruct TikTok to delete all the data they have about you and so prevent it from being stolen as a result of a data breach.