How to Turn On Comments on TikTok: A Deep Dive for Creators

So, you’re ready to unleash the conversational power of TikTok and foster a vibrant community around your content? Excellent! Turning on comments is easier than nailing the latest dance trend, but understanding the nuances will ensure you’re in control of the conversation. Here’s the straight dope:

To turn on comments on TikTok, you have two primary options: globally for all your videos or individually for specific videos.

• Globally (For Future Videos):

  1. Open the TikTok app.
  2. Tap on Profile (the icon in the bottom right corner).
  3. Tap on the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top right corner.
  4. Select Settings and privacy.
  5. Tap on Privacy.
  6. Under “Interactions”, select Comments.
  7. Here, you can choose who can comment on your videos: “Everyone,” “Followers you follow back,” or “No one.” Select “Everyone” or “Followers you follow back” to enable comments.

• Individually (For a Specific Video):

  1. Open the TikTok app.
  2. Go to your Profile.
  3. Select the video you want to enable comments on.
  4. Tap the three dots (ellipsis) on the right side of the screen.
  5. Swipe left on the bottom row of icons until you see the Privacy settings option. Tap on it.
  6. Toggle the “Allow comments” switch to the “on” position (it will turn green).

Now that we’ve covered the core process, let’s dive into the nuances with some frequently asked questions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About TikTok Comments

Q1: Why Can’t I See the “Allow Comments” Option on a Specific Video?

This usually boils down to a couple of potential culprits. First, make sure your account is public. Private accounts inherently restrict many interaction features, including comments. Second, double-check your global comment settings (as outlined above). If you’ve globally disabled comments, the individual video setting might be overridden. Finally, it’s possible that a TikTok update or bug is temporarily affecting the feature. Restarting the app or your device can sometimes resolve this.

Q2: How Do I Filter Comments Before They Appear?

TikTok offers a robust comment filtering system to help you maintain a positive and respectful environment. Navigate to Settings and privacy > Privacy > Comments, and you’ll find options to:

• Filter all comments: This will hold all comments for your approval before they are visible to others.
• Filter selected comment types: You can automatically filter comments based on specific criteria like profanity or perceived negativity.
• Use a custom keyword list: Create a list of words or phrases that you want to automatically hide from comments.

Q3: Can I Delete Specific Comments on My Videos?

Absolutely! Deleting comments is crucial for maintaining a healthy and engaging community. To delete a comment:

1. Long-press on the comment you want to remove.
2. A menu will appear with options. Select “Delete“.
3. You can also report comments that violate TikTok’s Community Guidelines.

Q4: How Do I Pin a Comment to the Top of My Video’s Comment Section?

Pinning a comment is a fantastic way to highlight important information, showcase a positive review, or simply emphasize a particularly insightful comment. To pin a comment:

1. Long-press on the comment you want to pin.
2. Select “Pin comment” from the menu that appears.
3. The pinned comment will now appear at the top of the comment section, regardless of its original timestamp.

Q5: What Does “Followers You Follow Back” Mean in Comment Settings?

This setting restricts commenting privileges to users who are mutual followers. In other words, both you and the commenter must be following each other for them to be able to leave a comment on your videos. This is a good middle ground for fostering a more intimate community while still allowing some external engagement.

Q6: Can I Block Someone from Commenting on All My Videos?

Yes, you can and should if someone is engaging in harassment or violating TikTok’s Community Guidelines. To block someone:

1. Go to their profile.
2. Tap the share icon (arrow pointing right) in the top right corner.
3. Select “Block“.

Blocking a user prevents them from commenting on your videos, viewing your content (depending on your privacy settings), and messaging you.

Q7: What Happens If I Turn Off Comments on a Video?

Turning off comments means that no one can leave new comments on that specific video. Existing comments will still be visible (unless you delete them), but the comment section will be effectively closed.

Q8: I’m Still Not Seeing Comments Even Though They’re Enabled. What’s Wrong?

This can be frustrating! First, ensure you’ve waited a reasonable amount of time. Sometimes it takes a few minutes for changes to propagate across TikTok’s servers. Second, refresh the app or try restarting your device. If the problem persists, it could be a temporary issue on TikTok’s end. Check online forums or social media to see if other users are experiencing the same problem. You can also try clearing the cache in the TikTok app (found in Settings and privacy > Free up space).

Q9: Can I Enable Comments on Duets and Stitches?

The ability to enable comments on Duets and Stitches depends on the original video’s privacy settings. If the original creator has disabled comments on their video, you won’t be able to enable comments on your Duet or Stitch of that video. However, if the original video allows comments, your Duet or Stitch will inherit those settings (unless you manually change them in your privacy settings for that specific video).

Q10: How Do I Report Inappropriate Comments?

Reporting inappropriate comments is essential for maintaining a safe and positive community on TikTok. To report a comment:

1. Long-press on the comment you want to report.
2. Select “Report“.
3. Choose the appropriate reason for reporting the comment (e.g., harassment, hate speech, spam).
4. TikTok will review the reported comment and take action if it violates their Community Guidelines.

Q11: Is There a Way to See All the Comments I’ve Made on Other People’s Videos?

Unfortunately, TikTok doesn’t offer a direct feature to view all your past comments in one place. The best way to find your previous comments is to manually navigate to the videos you commented on. However, third-party apps often claim the ability to provide this functionality, exercise extreme caution when using them. Many are scams or violate TikTok’s terms of service.

Q12: How Does TikTok’s Algorithm Affect Comment Visibility?

While the exact workings of TikTok’s algorithm are shrouded in mystery, it’s generally understood that engagement plays a significant role in comment visibility. Comments with more likes and replies are more likely to be shown to other users. TikTok also considers factors like the commenter’s relationship with the video creator and the relevance of the comment to the video’s content. Therefore, encouraging meaningful and engaging comments can help increase their visibility and foster a more vibrant community.