Hey there! Discovered some cringe-worthy TikToks recently that made you wonder, "How do I see fewer videos like this?" I‘ve totally been there. With over 1 billion monthly active users – uploading tens of millions of videos per day – TikTok boasts stunning variety. But with such volume, comes…irrelevance.
Luckily, TikTok provides tools to customize exactly what kinds of videos you see in your feed. These content preferences allow you to filter content to match your unique interests. I‘ll show you how to use them to maximize entertainment and discovery, while avoiding over-promotion and disturbance. Let‘s dive in!
Why You Need Content Preferences
Before we get technical, it‘s important to understand why fine-tuning your preferences positively impacts your viewing experience.
Surface What You Want to See
TikTok‘s recommendation algorithm analyzes your engagement to select content. But it‘s not mind-reader! By explicitly selecting topics or creators you enjoy, you communicate directly what you want to see more of.
Suppress What You Don‘t
Just as crucial is blocking content that‘s not relevant. Keyword filtering and Restricted Mode limit videos that miss the mark, are misleading, or even offensive. This prevents TikTok from wasting your time suggesting them in the future.
Boost Your Discovery Engine
Exploring niche topics expands what content the algorithms reference when compiling your feed. You illuminate new interests, which spotlights creators and communities you may have never encountered otherwise.
In summary, content preferences guide TikTok to learn your unique interests faster – serving you entertainmentyou actually want to consume. Let‘s see them in action!
Accessing Content Preferences
Locating the content preferences menu takes just a few taps:
- Open your TikTok Profile
- Tap the Settings icon (⋮)
- Choose Settings & Privacy
- Select Content Preferences
This opens options to filter keywords and enable Restricted Mode:
Now, let‘s explore how each setting benefits your viewing experience.
Keyword Filtering
The keyword filtering tool allows blacklist terms by adding them to the input field, separated by commas. Any videos tagged with or mentioning those keywords will be automatically hidden from your feed.
This gives you precise control to eliminate specific types of unwanted content – no matter the source. Are cooking videos ruining recipes in illogical ways? Filter out "5-minute crafts." Annoyed by promotional content from that one creator? Block their username. Keyword filtering is your first line of defense.
Over time, continually filtering poor recommendations trains TikTok‘s algorithms to better understand your taste. Studies indicate users who leverage keyword filtering enjoy a 22% improvement in recommendation relevancy within 2 weeks. That means higher quality content surfaces faster!
Restricted Mode
Restricted Mode provides a blanket solution by limiting mature content and videos featuring revealing clothes, violence, alcohol, or other adult themes.
Enabling this setting makes your feed more family-friendly, avoiding content that may be offensive or disturbing to some audiences while allowing you to relax and enjoy TikTok freely.
Now Restricted Mode isn‘t flawless – its automation still allows some questionable videos through review. However, combined with human content moderation teams continually flagging policy violators, TikTok removes over 104 million videos per year. This leaves less unwanted content that could reach your eyes.
Together, keyword filtering and Restricted Mode allow granular control over your feed. But modifying preferences introduces another benefit…
Sparking Video Ideas in Your Niche
Cultivating a feed around topics you enjoy provides no shortage of inspiration for creating your own TikToks!
By watching creators in your niche:
- Discover trending formats to put your spin on
- Find new styles of transition effects to try
- See which video concepts resonate best with audiences
TikTok content preferences shine a spotlight on your interests. This exposes you to more concepts, trends, and techniques to imitate or remix with your unique perspective!
What‘s more, the highly-visual nature of TikTok means you can learn a lot about video production. Pay attention to:
- Camera angles
- Use of text
- Lighting
- Editing pace
- Thumbnail images
- Caption wording
Observing what works well for others in your niche provides a digital masterclass in optimizing your own videos!
Additional Tips for Controlling Your Experience
Keywords and Restricted Mode make up TikTok‘s core content preferences. But you have additional options to fine-tune your view:
Use "Not Interested" – Tap the ❌ on videos to train the recommendation system faster on content to avoid suggesting.
Follow Hashtags – Track trending topics related to your interests to discover more communities.
Check the Discover Page – Scroll this feed of curated content to find rising trends you enjoy.
Limit Ad Tracking – Opt out of data sharing for advertising to reduce promotional frequency.
Take Control of Your TikTok Journey
With over a billion users, TikTok offers something for everyone. But without content preferences, your unique interests get lost in the noise. By spending a few minutes adjusting these settings, you refine your feed to highlight entertaining videos relevant to you.
Give it try! Block some annoying keywords, enable Restricted Mode, follow some new hashtags. See what catches your eye. TikTok offers a digital world of possibilities. Content preferences put you in the driver‘s seat to explore it freely and comfortably.
What new interests are you looking to dive into on TikTok? Have any other tips for personalizing your feed? Let me know in the comments!
