What Does "Shared with You" Mean on TikTok?

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Why this message appears on suggested profiles and videos

Co-authored by Travis Boylls Reviewed by Candace Gasper

Last Updated: November 17, 2025 Fact Checked

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• What It Means
|
• Why It Appears on Unknown Accounts
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• Why is my ex "Shared with You"?
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• Disabling "Shared with You"
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• Preventing "Shared with You"
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• Where the Tag Appears

|Show more |Show less

You may have seen the tag "Shared with You" on TikTok. It can appear on videos or next to a person's profile in your suggested profiles. Often, this will appear on the account of a person you don't know, a distant contact, or someone you don't want to interact with. This leaves many people wondering what "Shared with You" actually means. This wikiHow article answers all your questions.

"Shared With You" Meaning: Quick Answer

There's no official explanation from TikTok about what "Shared with You" means. Our sources suggest that this label can appear on content or accounts that were shared with you via direct message on TikTok or through a different platform using a share link.

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Section 1 of 6:

What does "Shared with You" mean?

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1. 
   It most likely means you have interacted with that account via sharing. It is worth noting that TikTok has not provided an official explanation for what this means. However, it most likely has to do with TikTok's sharing feature.

   • Direct messaging: If a user shares a video with you via a DM, that video may appear in your For You Page (FYP) with the tag "Shared with You." That may result in the user or creator appearing with a "Shared with You" tag under "Suggested profiles."
   • Off-platform sharing: If someone shares a link to a TikTok video with you on another platform (i.e., WhatsApp, Reddit, text message, email) via a share link. That may result in the user or creator appearing with a "Shared with You" tag under "Suggested profiles."
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Section 2 of 6:

Why am I seeing accounts I don't know?

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1. 
   Their content may have been shared in a group chat or by chain-sharing. If a video is shared in a group conversation, that person's profile may be suggested to everyone in the group with the tag "Shared with You." It could also be due to chain-sharing. When one person shares a video with another person, and that person shares the video with you, the original account that was shared may appear with the tag "Shared with You." Basically, any account you interact with via sharing may appear as "Shared with You," even if it was indirectly.

Section 3 of 6:

Why am I seeing my ex as "Shared with you?"

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1. 
   TikTok's algorithm remembers old interactions. This may be one of the more perplexing and unsettling aspects of this feature. Many users have reported seeing their ex (or people they don't want to interact with) appear as "Shared with You." As stated before, TikTok has never provided a clear explanation as to how this tag works. We do know that TikTok's algorithm is sophisticated and remembers all manner of interaction. You may see old accounts that you interacted with in your "Suggested accounts" section. This could just be a bug that TikTok still needs to fix.
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Section 4 of 6:

Can I turn off the "Shared with You" feature?

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1. 
   No, at least not directly. The "Shared with You" tag isn't a feature that you can turn on and off. It's a passive aspect of the algorithm. However, you can adjust your privacy settings to limit who can direct message you and share content with you. Use the following steps to adjust your privacy settings:

   • Open TikTok and tap the Profile icon
   • Tap the icon with three lines (☰) in the upper-right corner.
   • Tap Settings & privacy.
   • Tap Privacy.
   • Tap Direct messages.
   • Tap Permission settings.
   • Tap Potential connections.
   • Select Don't receive.
   • Tap Other on TikTok.
   • Select Don't receive.

Section 5 of 6:

Can I prevent my account from being suggested?

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1. 
   Yes, you can prevent your account from appearing as a suggested account. This will prevent your account from appearing as "Shared with You" or other suggestions. Use the following steps to block your account from being suggested:

   • Open TikTok and tap the Profile icon
   • Tap the icon with three lines (☰) in the upper-right corner.
   • Tap Settings & privacy.
   • Tap Privacy.
   • Tap Suggest your account to others.
   • Turn off all the toggle switches (especially the one next to "People who open or send links to you").
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Section 6 of 6:

Where do you see this tag?

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1. 
   It can appear on a suggested profile or on a video. When you check your notifications, you may see an account labeled "Shared with You" under "Suggested accounts." You can find your suggested accounts under the "Activity" section of your Notifications. If someone shares a video with you via a direct message, you may see that video appear in your For You Page (FYP) or Explorer page with the tag "Shared with You."

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