Whether it was your friend telling you about someone on TikTok or you are simply looking for someone, you will likely use the Search option to find them.
In today’s guide, I will explain whether or not you will show up as a suggested friend for someone if you search for them on TikTok.
Considering that you may not want to show up as a suggested friend for someone when you are simply checking out their TikTok profile, let us break this down for you.
If You Search Someone on TikTok Will You Show Up As a Suggested Friend?
Fortunately for you, no, when you search for someone on TikTok, based on that alone, you will not show up for them as a suggested friend.
Now, you can be forgiven for thinking that you might show up as a suggested friend for someone after you have searched for them on the TikTok app and sure, TikTok’s algorithm does look for similarities in order to suggest friends.
However, simply searching for someone on TikTok is not enough to get you suggested as a potential friend.
This is because suggested friends on TikTok are more based on mutual friends and contacts rather than searches for that account.
So, while it is understandable to be worried about showing up as a suggested friend after searching for your ex’s TikTok account, you most likely will not be suggested unless you have many mutual friends or their number is in your contacts list.
Keep in mind that if you did previously follow them on TikTok or have messaged them, then it is more likely that you will show up as a suggested friend for them on the TikTok app.
This is because the algorithm on TikTok will recognize this as a commonality between your account and theirs, which is also why you are more likely to be suggested as a friend when you have mutual friends or their number is in your contacts, or vice versa.
Along side wondering if you’re show up as a suggest friends, you may also be worried someone will be notified when you search them on tiktok.
If Someone Has Searched For Me on TikTok Will They Show Up in My Suggested List?
Fortunately or unfortunately, no, if someone searched for you on TikTok, then that by itself will not be enough for TikTok’s algorithm to show them on your suggested friends list.
However, if you both have more than one mutual friend, then it is more likely for them to show up on your suggested friends list; regardless if they searched for you or not.
The same could be said for if their phone number is in your contacts list or if your number is in their contact list. These are the primary similarities that TikTok’s algorithm looks for when it is suggesting friends to you.
With this in mind, the algorithm on TikTok does not necessarily take into account that one account is searching for another. Instead, it is looking for similarities between your account and theirs, such as mutual friends and their number being in your contacts list.
Without these similarities, someone searching for you on TikTok will not be enough for them to be shown on your suggested friends list.
With all of that said it is very difficult to know when someone is searching for your account on TikTok. So, you will likely never know when someone is searching for you on the TikTok app unless they add you or vice versa.
How Does TikTok Suggest People to Follow?
TikTok’s algorithm, which is responsible for finding similarities between accounts to suggest them to each other, does not use searches for other users to suggest them as a potential friend.
TikTok uses an algorithm to determine which account should be suggested as a potential friend to another and this algorithm is looking for mutual friends and similar contact phone numbers that accounts have in common.
TikTok’s algorithm will then determine that these accounts are compatible since they share similarities. For example, if someone follows more than one account that you also follow on TikTok, then the algorithm is more likely to suggest them as a potential friend.
Sometimes, even one follower in common can be enough for TikTok’s algorithm to add them to your suggested friends list.
Similarly to many other social media platforms, you can sync your contacts to make finding your friends on TikTok easier.
However, this is another way TikTok’s algorithm determines which accounts to add to your suggested friends list, as it will find contact numbers that you share in common with other accounts, then it will suggest any accounts that share similar contacts.
These are only a few ways that the TikTok algorithm finds accounts to suggest as potential friends.
Let us explore some other ways TikTok determines who to suggest as a potential friend.
1. They Follow You
If someone follows you on TikTok, then the algorithm will almost certainly suggest them as a potential friend. This is not too different from Instagram’s notification for when someone follows you but you do not follow them back.
TikTok’s algorithm will recognize that they follow you and you do not follow them back, which will make them an easy pick for a suggested friend. This is due to the fact that you follow them and the algorithm will recognize this as a similarity.
If you both also have more than a few mutual friends, then this will only encourage TikTok’s algorithm to suggest them as a potential friend.
2. You Have Many Mutual Friends
As previously mentioned, when you and another account on TikTok share many mutual friends, you are both likely to show up on each other’s suggested friends list.
This is due to similarities between your account and theirs, which the algorithm will recognize as a potential for you to follow them or vice versa.
This algorithm is not too different from the one used by many other social media platforms such as Instagram or Facebook since if you and another account share mutual friends, then you are likely to know each other, which means that you might want to follow/friend each other.
3. They Are in Your Contacts
As previously mentioned, TikTok’s algorithm primarily suggests friends due to similarities such as mutual friends and/or similar contact numbers.
This means that if you have their number in your contacts and you have also synced your contacts to your TikTok account, then they are more likely to be on your suggested friends list.
This is because syncing your contacts to your TikTok account is a common way to find your friends on the app. So, the algorithm on TikTok takes this as a good reason to suggest them as a potential friend.
The same could even be said if you have similar contacts to theirs, as this is not too different from sharing mutual friends.
4. You Are in Their Contacts
As previously mentioned, much like other social media platforms, you can sync your contacts to your TikTok account, which not only makes it easier to find your friends on TikTok but also makes it more simple for them to find you.
With this in mind, if your phone number is in someone’s contacts and they have their contact list synced with their TikTok account, then TikTok’s algorithm will almost certainly suggest you to them as a potential friend/follower.
This is because TikTok’s algorithm not only looks for mutual friends but also similar contact numbers.
5. You Have Followed Them Before
Another way TikTok’s algorithm may suggest someone to you as a potential friend is if you have previously followed them on TikTok.
If you did follow them on TikTok, then stopped following them, then not only do you likely share mutual friends but you have also likely messaged/interacted with them. This is certainly enough for TikTok’s algorithm to suggest them as a potential friend, as you have followed them previously.
6. You Used to Message Each Other on TikTok
Similarly, if you used to follow someone on TikTok, if you also used to message them on the TikTok app, then the algorithm is even more likely to suggest them as a potential friend (on your suggested friends list).
This is because you both not only probably share many mutual friends but also have communicated with each other on the TikTok app, which the algorithm takes as a good reason to suggest them as a potential friend.
This is just one of the many sneaky ways the TikTok algorithm figures out who to suggest to you.
How to See TikTok Suggested Friends
With all of this talk about suggested friends on the TikTok app, you might be wondering how to see your suggested friends. You are in luck, as we will show you step by step.
Steps to See Suggested Friends on TikTok
Step 1. The first thing you will want to do is log into your TikTok account, then you can go to your profile by tapping on your profile icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.
Step 2. Next, you can find and tap on the arrow icon on the right side of the screen. After you have selected the arrow icon, a menu entitled ‘Suggested Accounts’ will appear on your screen.
Step 3. Under the Suggested Accounts menu, you will find all of the accounts that TikTok’s algorithm thinks that you might want to befriend. You can scroll through these suggested accounts by swiping to the right or left side of your screen.
Step 4. Any potential friends suggested by TikTok will be found here.
Why Does TikTok Keep Suggesting the Same Person?
The most common and likely reason why TikTok’s algorithm keeps on suggesting the same person to you is that you both share many mutual friends.
If you both tend to run in the same circles of friends, then you should not be surprised when TikTok keeps on suggesting their account to you. This is simply due to similarities and commonalities shared between your TikTok accounts.
1. They Follow You
A valid reason why someone keeps on showing up on your suggested friends list on TikTok could be that they follow you but you do not follow them back.
This might remind you of a notification that you can receive on Instagram telling you that someone follows you but you do not follow them back, which is because it is essentially the same.
2. You Have Lots Of Mutual Friends
If you share many mutual friends with someone on TikTok, then they will almost certainly be suggested as a potential friend. This is because the algorithm picks up on mutual friends and believes you may want to follow each other.
3. You Have Each Other’s Contact Method Saved On A Phone
If you have their phone number under your contacts and have your contacts synced to your TikTok account or they have your phone number and vice versa, then they will likely show up on your suggested friends list.
4. You Used to Message Each Other on TikTok
Similarly, if you used to follow someone on TikTok, if you also used to message them on the TikTok app, then the algorithm is even more likely to suggest them as a potential friend (on your suggested friends list).
This is because you both not only probably share many mutual friends but also have communicated with each other on the TikTok app, which the algorithm take as a good reason to suggest them as a potential friend.
Why Does My Ex Come Up in My TikTok Suggestions?
The most likely reason why your ex keeps on showing up on your suggested friends list is that you two likely share many mutual friends. With that said, you most likely messaged them on the TikTok app before or used to follow them, which will cause TikTok’s algorithm to suggest them as a potential friend/follower.
It is always interesting to figure out why someone is being suggested as a potential friend/follower. There are many questions that come with such a thing and we have provided reasons why this occurs. K
eep in mind that searching for someone on TikTok is not enough for them to be suggested as a potential friend; however, there are other variables that contribute to which accounts are suggested to you.