How To Turn Off Active Status on TikTok

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TikTok has a feature called Active Status that displays a green dot in the corner of someone’s profile, letting their mutual followers know when they are on the app. While TikTok added this feature to make followers feel more connected, it raises privacy concerns that may prompt users to opt out. Turning off Active Status on TikTok is relatively simple.

Instructions For Turning Off Active Status

If you want to turn off Active Status on your TikTok account, follow these step-by-step instructions.

• Go to your “Profile”: This is the button at the bottom-right of your screen, with an outline of a person and the word “Profile” underneath it.
• Tap the three lines in the upper right-hand corner: This takes you to a screen with three sections, “Assets,” “Personal tools” and “Creation & business tools.” 
• Tap the “Settings and privacy” tab: This is under the “Creation & business tools” section. You should now see a long list of sections and tabs.
• Go to the “Privacy” tab: This is under the “Account” section. You should not have to scroll down to see it.
• Toggle off “Activity Status”: This is at the top in the “Discoverability” section, directly underneath the “Private account” toggle. 

Once you toggle that off, TikTok will no longer display your Active Status on your profile.

Why Does TikTok Display Active Status?

TikTok added the Active Status feature to foster connections between mutual followers. The premise is that if your friends know you are online, you are more likely to strike up a conversation or send them a video. There is no motive beyond that, according to common knowledge. 

Some terms and conditions come with the feature. It is only available to users over 18 to protect minors. It displays the status while you are using the app and then tells your followers when you were last active, for up to two days. Afterward, it displays no status until you log back on. 

What Happens When Active Status is Turned Off?

Once you turn Active Status off, you can no longer see other users’ statuses, even if they have it toggled on. They cannot see yours either. The green dot near your profile picture displaying your status will disappear. It will not say when you were last active or any other activity information. If you turn it back on, all of these features return almost instantly. 

Benefits and Drawbacks of Having Active Status On

Users make conscious choices when turning their Active Status on or off. The following are some potential benefits and drawbacks of having the feature toggled on.

Benefits of Active Status

The main benefit of Active Status is that your mutual followers know when you are online. Beyond just being accessible to your friends and starting conversations or sharing videos, this feature is particularly beneficial for social media influencers. Your mutual followers can see how active you are, potentially boosting your engagement. Audiences like it when their favorite influencers interact with fans, and Active Status can serve as a stepping stone for that.

The feature also helps you contribute to the algorithm. TikTok can see how often you are using the app, showing you are an active user and sending more videos you may like to your For You Page. It can be annoying to see videos that do not interest you, so helping TikTok tailor its algorithm can improve your scrolling experience.

While TikTok has not outright stated this, some users believe that having Active Status on your account gives it more visibility. While this cannot be proven unless TikTok issues an official statement, it is worth considering if you are trying to boost your profile’s engagement with your audience.

Drawbacks of Active Status

While there are a few benefits to having Active Status on your TikTok profile, there are also some potential drawbacks. Around 78% of people believe they know how to handle their own information, so turning Active Status on or off is a form of control. 

One primary concern users have with Active Status is privacy. Some users do not want their mutual followers to know when they are online. It can make them feel constantly accessible when they just want to mindlessly scroll through videos and decompress. 

Another drawback is the tool’s inaccuracy. If users leave the app, the Active Status sometimes shows they are on even when they are not. If the app is still running in the background, that is usually the cause. There is also a period after completely closing the app when Active Status remains on. While it is a short time, it can miscommunicate to your followers when you are actually online. 

Additional Questions TikTok Users May Have

While TikTok introduced Active Status in 2023, many users still have questions about it. The following answers common questions to help you better understand the tool.

Does Active Status Mean You Cannot See if Someone Read Your Direct Message (DM)?

Active Status is different from Read Receipts. Active Status only displays when you are actively using TikTok. Read Receipts appear once someone opens your DM.

Who Can See Your Active Status?

Your mutual followers are the only users who can see your Active Status. People who follow you but you do not follow back cannot see your Active Status. When the feature is toggled off, no one can see it.

Can You Hide Your Active Status From One User?

While similar features to this one are becoming more complex across social media apps, TikTok does not currently offer a way to turn Active Status off for a single user. Once you turn it off, it is invisible to all users. The app updates a lot, so this could change in the future.

Does TikTok Still Collect Data When Active Status is Off?

Data collection is different from Active Status. Active Status only shows when you are active on your account. Your algorithm, comments, posts, followers and other activity are still available for TikTok to gather information from. The Active Status tool only informs your mutual followers when you are online.

How Does TikTok’s Active Status Compare to Instagram or Facebook Messenger’s Similar Features?

Instagram and Facebook Messenger’s activity status features are remarkably similar to TikTok’s tool. Instagram even displays the same green dot on a user’s profile picture. The only significant difference is the intention behind each platform, since TikTok is primarily short-form videos, Instagram is pictures with captions and Facebook Messenger is messaging. Users may want to see another user’s Active Status for different reasons on each app.

Practice Intentional Digital Habits

Turning off Active Status on TikTok is relatively simple. Understanding why it exists and why users turn it on and off is more complex. It is good for TikTok users to be intentional about their digital habits, including choosing when to display their status online.