TikTok
TikTok grants itself broad rights to use your content worldwide for operating the platform and developing AI technologies. The service disclaims most liability and limits damages to $100 or amounts you've paid in the past 12 months. Account termination can happen at TikTok's sole discretion without prior notice.
If you're in Florida and under 14, you can no longer use TikTok (previously just under-13 nationwide). TikTok added a lot more detail about who can't use the app due to international sanctions — basically, if you're in certain countries or regions, or on government blacklists, your account can be suspended. They also made it clear they're not responsible if they ban or suspend your account, and you now have to cover their legal costs if you violate export or sanctions laws.
See the full change →The Bottom Line
AI-generated summary of the terms as we read them. Opinion, not legal advice.
TikTok grants itself broad rights to use your content worldwide for operating the platform and developing AI technologies. The service disclaims most liability and limits damages to $100 or amounts you've paid in the past 12 months. Account termination can happen at TikTok's sole discretion without prior notice.
Get notified when TikTok updates their TOS
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Notable Clauses
“Depending on your Platform usage, including your sharing activities and settings, you also grant to each user of the Platform a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual and irrevocable, worldwide license to use Your Content, including to access, reproduce (e.g. to copy), distribute, share, download, a...”
“Our license to use Your Content includes our rights to access, reproduce (e.g. to copy), distribute, share, download, adapt or make derivative works (e.g. to translate and/or create captions), perform, and communicate Your Content to the public (e.g. to display it), for the purposes of operating, im...”
“By creating, inputting, publishing, and otherwise providing Your Content on or to the Platform, you grant to TikTok USDS Joint Venture a license to use Your Content that is: non-exclusive, irrevocable, and royalty-free (you retain the rights to use Your Content elsewhere, although we don't owe you a...”
“You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless TikTok USDS Joint Venture and our affiliates, service providers, and business partners, including TT Commerce & Global Services and its affiliates, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and advisors from any and all clai...”
“YOU AND TIKTOK USDS JOINT VENTURE AGREE THAT YOU MUST INITIATE ANY PROCEEDING OR ACTION WITHIN ONE (1) YEAR OF THE DATE OF THE OCCURRENCE OF THE EVENT OR FACTS GIVING RISE TO A DISPUTE THAT IS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR THE PLATFORM. OTHERWISE, YOU FOREVER WAIVE THE RIGHT TO PURSUE ...”
“We reserve the right, at any time and without prior notice, to ban or suspend your account, or restrict your access to features of the Platform, at our sole discretion, including if: we have reason to believe in our sole discretion that you have violated these Terms, our Community Guidelines, or oth...”
“To the extent permitted by applicable law, the maximum aggregate liability of TikTok USDS Joint Venture and our affiliates, service providers and business partners, including TT Commerce & Global Services, and its affiliates, and each of our respective officers, directors, employees, agents, and adv...”
“Output is provided "as is" and is made available to you without any representations or warranties of any kind, whether express or implied.”
Protect Yourself
ACTIONABLESettings and actions you can take to limit your exposure
Limit Data for Ads Personalization
Reduces how much of your activity TikTok uses to customize ads shown to you on and off the platform
- Open TikTok app → Profile → Menu (3 lines) → Settings and privacy
- Tap 'Privacy' → 'Ads personalization'
- Turn off 'Personalized ads' and 'Ad activity information'
Download Your Data Before Major Changes
Get copies of your videos and data in case of account issues or policy changes
- Go to TikTok app → Profile → Menu → Settings and privacy
- Tap 'Privacy' → 'Download your data'
- Select 'Request data file' and choose what to include
- Wait for email notification and download within 4 days
Restrict Who Can Use Your Content
Limits how other users can interact with and reuse your videos
- Before posting: tap 'Who can view this video' and select 'Friends' instead of 'Public'
- Turn off 'Allow Duet' and 'Allow Stitch' to prevent remixing
- For existing videos: tap the 3 dots on your video → Privacy settings → adjust options
Limit Profile Discoverability
Makes it harder for people to find your account through search or recommendations
- Go to Privacy settings → 'Discoverability'
- Turn off 'Suggest your account to others'
- Turn off 'Allow others to find you' options for phone/email
Better Alternatives in Social Media
These social media services have a higher Rights Score on their terms
Disclaimer: The clauses shown above are excerpts from publicly available Terms of Service documents. Ratings and severity levels reflect community and AI assessment, not legal advice, factual claims, or determinations about a company's legality or intent. Clauses marked “VERIFIED” have been confirmed as exact quotes from the source document. Clauses marked “AI-extracted” were identified by AI and may contain errors. Always verify against the original TOS.
Get notified when TikTok updates their TOS
We'll email you what changed and what it means
By subscribing, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.