Imagine this: You open TikTok, scroll through your For You page, and suddenly see a familiar face pop up under “Suggested Accounts.” Maybe it’s a friend you haven’t talked to in years or someone you met just once. You wonder, Why is TikTok recommending this person to me? Better yet, Is my profile showing up for people too?
If you’ve ever asked yourself those questions, you’re not alone. TikTok’s “Suggested Accounts” feature isn’t random it’s built to connect users based on real life connections, mutual interests, and the data you choose to share. Whether you’re trying to grow your audience, reconnect with friends, or just curious how TikTok seems to know who you might want to follow, there’s more going on behind the scenes than meets the eye.
In this article, we’re going to break down exactly how TikTok picks which accounts to suggest to you and how your own profile might be showing up in others’ recommendations. You’ll learn how to control these suggestions, use them to grow your profile, or simply protect your privacy. Let’s get straight to the point so you can take full control of how TikTok connects you to others.
Contents
What Does Suggested Account Mean On TikTok:
If you’re scrolling through TikTok and you come across a “Suggested Account”, it means that TikTok is recommending a particular account for you to check out based on your activity and interests on the platform.
This means that the suggested account might share similar content to what you’ve been engaging with, such as videos from the same genre or related topics. It’s an attempt by TikTok to introduce you to new creators and expand your content discovery.
You have the choice to either follow the suggested account or simply continue exploring other content. If you find the suggested account interesting or relevant to your preferences, you can tap the “Follow” button to stay updated with their future posts.
Also, keep in mind that the “Suggested Account” feature is not the only way to discover new content on TikTok. You can still explore the “For You” page, and hashtags, or search for specific accounts or topics to find content that aligns with your interests.
Note that TikTok’s algorithm continuously learns from your interactions and adjusts its recommendations over time.
You have a few steps to take to stop contacts from finding you on TikTok.
How Does TikTok suggest friends:
You often see TikTok shows suggested friends list on your TikTok feed, and it is happening because TikTok has an algorithm to do that. Like the other exciting features of TikTok, they also have the suggested friends feature, which will help you increase your reach.
One question that may come to the user’s mind that how TikTok suggests friends, and to give answers, follow the below points:
1. Based on Your Friends
The first algorithm TikTok uses to suggest your friends is based on your existing TikTok friends. According to your friend’s friend list on TikTok show the people on your list. Because in this case, your friend will be the mutual one between you and the suggested one.
📌 TIP
These suggestions often reflect your current social network and recent app activity
If you know the suggested person, you can follow him, and your other friends may see this person in their list as you will be the mutual one in this case, and the cycle goes continuously.
2. People You Follow on TikTok
People you follow on TikTok can be shown in your suggested friend list. TikTok shows the suggested friend list based on the people in touch with you directly or indirectly.
Your followers are in touch with you, and better, you can say the most eligible people to be your friend. So, based on the people you follow on TikTok will come as your suggested friend.
3. People on Your Conversation List
You will get suggestions based on the people on your conversation list on TikTok. The people in your Inbox section to whom you are talking most, their friend’s name will appear in your suggested friend list.
4. Your Interests Section
Based on your TikTok interest section, you may get suggestions, meaning the people or the page you follow are your interests. People who also follow this page or the people may come to your suggested friend list.
5. Your Location on TikTok
Finally, the app can track your location if you grant the location permission to TikTok. Based on your location, the people using TikTok on your location may come to the suggested friend list.
Why Does TikTok Suggest Friends:
You have the following reasons below:
1. Mutual Interests and Activities
If you see TikTok suggesting friends to you, it’s because they have algorithms that analyze your activity and interests on the platform.
This analysis includes the types of videos you watch, like, and interact with, as well as the accounts you follow.
So, if TikTok notices that you have similar preferences and engage with similar content as another user, it may suggest them as a potential friend for you.
You should consider connecting with these suggested friends if you are interested in exploring more content related to your favorite topics or hobbies, as they might share similar tastes with you.
When this happens, TikTok takes into account the connections you already have on the platform.
Due to the information available from your profile, such as your phone contacts or connected social media accounts, TikTok can identify potential friends who are already in your network.
This can help you discover friends who are also on TikTok but might not have crossed your path yet.
You must consider adding these suggested friends if you want to expand your social circle on the platform and stay connected with people you already know outside of TikTok.
3. Geographical Proximity
While you find TikTok suggesting friends, it’s because the app can also utilize your location information.
For this reason, if TikTok detects users who are geographically close to you, it may suggest them as potential friends.
Now, you can connect with people who are in your local area, which can be useful for finding TikTokers who share the same city or region as you.
You can seize this opportunity to build connections with users who are nearby, allowing you to potentially meet new friends or discover local events and trends.
4. Engagement and Interaction
You might see that TikTok suggests friends based on your engagement and interaction patterns on the platform.
And this is because TikTok values active and meaningful participation within its community.
If TikTok identifies users with whom you frequently interact, such as exchanging comments, likes, or sharing content, it may suggest them as friends.
Just make sure to consider connecting with these suggested friends if you enjoy engaging with others on TikTok and want to foster deeper connections within the platform’s community.
How To See Suggested Friends on TikTok:
Follow the below steps:
Step 1: Open your TikTok account
To see your suggested friends on TikTok, open the TikTok app, and log in to your account with your credentials. If you do not have it, download the app from Play Store or App Store and create an account there.
After logging in to your account, ensure that you have some followers on your TikTok account because, based on that, they will suggest your friends.
Step 2: See your Following section
After logging in to your account, you can see four options at the bottom: Home, Discover, Inbox and Profile. Click on the Profile option and tap on the Following option below your profile picture.
On the next page, open any of the profiles of your Following. When their profile appears, click on the drop-down option from the upper right side.
Step 3: Check your suggested friends
When you click on the drop-down option, the list of your suggested friends will appear horizontally. Scroll your screen from right to left to see the list of suggested friends. You can see their profiles by opening them and also following them.
How to Stop TikTok from Suggesting Your Account
Want to keep your TikTok presence low-key? You can easily turn off account suggestions. This stops TikTok from recommending your profile to others—even if they’re in your contacts. It’s a smart move if you value privacy or don’t want to mix personal and content accounts.
Steps to Disable Suggestions:
Step 1: Go to your Profile.
Step 2: Tap Settings and privacy > Privacy.
Step 3: Tap Suggest your account to others.
Step 4: Toggle off all suggestion types (Contacts, Facebook, Mutuals, etc.).
📢Note
Even with settings off, TikTok might still suggest your profile based on interactions—keep that in mind.
Conclusion
TikTok’s suggested accounts feature is more than just a random list it’s a calculated system designed to help users connect, grow their networks, and discover relevant content. Whether you’re building your presence or trying to keep your activity more private, knowing how this feature works gives you more control over your experience. By managing your settings and understanding how suggestions are generated, you can shape who sees your profile and who appears on your feed. Stay informed, adjust your preferences, and use TikTok’s tools strategically to meet your goals on the platform.
Frequently Asked Questions:
The “Shared With You” label appears under certain suggested accounts when you browse TikTok’s recommendations. It means these profiles have been shared with you by friends or through TikTok’s suggestion system, making it easier for you to discover new people you might want to follow.
To see who’s been visiting your TikTok profile, look for the footstep icon at the top of your profile page. Tap that icon to open the profile views feature, where you’ll find a list of users who viewed your profile in the last 30 days.
Yes, but only if both you and the other person have the “Post View History” feature enabled. When this setting is on, users you follow who also have it activated can see that you viewed their posts. It’s a two-way feature that promotes transparency about who’s engaging with your content.
TikTok pulls suggested accounts from several sources, including your synced contacts, mutual friends, and even third-party websites you visit if you’ve allowed background activity sharing. These suggestions often show up under the “Discover” tab, helping you find accounts related to your interests and browsing habits.
