Social Media
Beginner
2 min read 7 stepsApril 2, 2026Verified April 2026How to Use TikTok
Browse, create, and share short videos on the most popular social media platform.
1
Download and sign up
~15sGet TikTok from your app store. Sign up with your email, phone, or Google/Apple account. You can browse without an account, but you need one to like, comment, and create videos.
2
Browse the For You page
~15sThe main feed shows recommended videos. Just scroll. TikTok learns what you like and shows you more of it. Swipe up for the next video. Tap the heart to like, speech bubble to comment.
3
Follow creators
~15sTap a creator's profile picture to visit their page. Tap Follow. Their new videos appear in your Following feed. Follow topics you enjoy: cooking, gardening, history, pets, news.
4
Create a video
~15sTap the + button at the bottom. Record by holding the red button (up to 10 minutes). Add text, music, filters, and effects. Write a caption. Tap Post. Your video is live.
5
Privacy settings
~15sSettings > Privacy. Set your account to Private if you want to control who sees your videos. Limit who can comment, duet, or stitch your videos. Disable message requests from strangers.
6
TikTok for learning
~15sTikTok isn't just entertainment. Search for #LearnOnTikTok for educational content. Cooking tutorials, home repairs, history lessons, language learning, and tech tips are hugely popular.
7
Screen time management
~15sSettings > Digital Wellbeing. Set a daily screen time limit. TikTok notifies you when you've reached it. The algorithm is designed to keep you scrolling — time limits help.
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