Why TikTok Shows Who You May Know and How to Manage It

Introduction to TikTok's "Who You May Know" Feature

If you have ever scrolled through TikTok and suddenly noticed a friend suggestion labeled "Who You May Know", you might have wondered: why does TikTok say who you may know, and how exactly does it decide who appears there? This feature is a core part of TikTok’s social discovery system, helping you find and connect with people you might already know in real life or through shared interests.

While it can be handy for reconnecting with friends, family, and colleagues, it also prompts questions about privacy, data collection, and how your activity is being analyzed.

In the sections below, we’ll explore how this recommendation feature works, what data TikTok uses, the privacy controls you can set, and strategies for managing your visibility on the platform.

---

How TikTok Collects Connection Suggestions

TikTok’s recommendations for “Who You May Know” are based on data signals and network analysis — not random guesses. Here are the most common sources:

1. Contact Syncing

When you give TikTok permission to access your phone contacts, the app scans phone numbers and email addresses to match them with existing TikTok accounts. If matches are found, TikTok may suggest those accounts to you (and vice versa).

2. Mutual Followers

Even without contact syncing, TikTok examines your network of followers and followed accounts. If you share multiple mutual connections with someone, the platform assumes a potential offline link.

3. Profile Activity

Your profile details — such as username similarity, connected accounts (Instagram, YouTube), and topical interests — can trigger your appearance in other users’ suggestion lists.

---

Explanation of TikTok’s Algorithm for People Suggestions

TikTok doesn’t reveal its exact friend-suggestion algorithm, but user observations and official policy documents suggest it uses a mix of social graph analysis and behavioral data.

Typical processes include:

• Matching identifiers: Cross-referencing phone numbers, email addresses, and usernames.
• Graph proximity analysis: Measuring how closely two accounts are connected within TikTok’s network via mutuals or shared interactions.
• Behavioral correlations: Identifying common content categories, engagement patterns, and overlapping communities.

This multi-layered approach enables TikTok to suggest people you’re more likely to know or want to follow.

---

Privacy Settings That Influence "Who You May Know"

You can partially control whether you appear in others’ suggestions or see theirs. Relevant settings include:

• Suggest your account to others: Toggle off to reduce suggestions via contacts, Facebook friends, mutual connections, or prior interactions.
• Private account: Require explicit approval before anyone can follow or message you.
• Contact and Facebook syncing: Decide whether TikTok periodically scans your contacts for matches.

Disabling these limits the data TikTok uses in its “Who You May Know” network mapping.

---

How to Disable Contact Syncing on TikTok

For maximum privacy, turning off contact syncing is the most straightforward step.

Steps on Mobile

1. Open the TikTok app.
2. Tap the Profile icon (bottom right).
3. Tap the ≡ menu (top right).
4. Select Settings and Privacy.
5. Under Privacy, tap Sync Contacts and Facebook Friends.
6. Toggle off Sync Contacts.
7. Delete previously uploaded contacts if prompted.

Menu -> Settings and Privacy -> Privacy -> Sync Contacts & Facebook Friends -> Toggle Off

This stops future contacts data access and removes any existing uploaded contact information from TikTok’s servers.

---

Managing Your Visibility and Connections on TikTok

Beyond contact syncing, adjust your Visibility settings to control who finds and interacts with you:

• Private account: Followers must be approved.
• Interaction controls: Decide who can comment, duet, or stitch your videos.
• Discoverability options: Disable “Allow others to find me” via contacts, Facebook friends, or mutual connections.

Here’s a comparison overview:

---

Implications for Privacy and Data Usage

Understanding why does TikTok say who you may know means recognizing the privacy trade-offs involved:

• More of your personal network can be stored on TikTok’s servers.
• People in your contacts may find your account even with minimal profile details.
• Your TikTok activity could be inferred by acquaintances you might not want to interact with.

Balancing social connectivity with data protection requires deliberate settings management.

---

Tips for Controlling Recommendation Accuracy Without Losing Engagement

If you want to stay discoverable yet still maintain some privacy:

1. Temporary syncing: Enable contact sync briefly to connect, then turn it off.
2. Regular review: Periodically check and remove unwanted followers or follow suggestions.
3. Unique usernames: Reduce cross-platform linking by avoiding the same handle elsewhere.
4. Split accounts: Keep separate personal and public profiles.

---

Common Misconceptions About the Feature

Let’s address some myths:

• Myth: TikTok listens to your conversations to suggest friends.
• Fact: No verified evidence supports this; suggestions rely on contact, network, and activity data.
• Myth: Blocking someone removes all visibility.
• Fact: Blocking hides your account from their searches and suggestions, but shared content or groups might still reveal you indirectly.
• Myth: Private accounts stop all suggestions.
• Fact: Privacy settings help, but past synced data can still trigger suggestions until deleted.

---

Balancing Social Discovery and Privacy on TikTok

TikTok’s “Who You May Know” feature aims to keep you connected and engaged. Fully answering why does TikTok say who you may know requires understanding the signals—from synced contacts to mutual activity—that inform its recommendations.

The platform offers privacy tools to disable or limit these suggestions, allowing you to find an equilibrium between networking and safeguarding your personal details.

Summary: By learning how TikTok determines “Who You May Know” and taking advantage of privacy settings, you can make informed choices about your connections. Review your preferences regularly to enjoy TikTok’s creative community while staying in control of your digital footprint.

Call to action: Audit your TikTok privacy settings today to ensure you’re sharing only what you’re comfortable with.