The phenomenon of encountering suggested connections on TikTok derived from one’s contact list, despite lacking familiarity with those individuals, stems from the platform’s algorithm. This algorithm analyzes phone numbers and email addresses stored in a user’s phone to identify potential connections among its vast user base. A person whose contact information is in your phone, and who also uses TikTok, may be suggested to you, even if you don’t recognize the association. For example, if a person purchased your secondhand item and you save their number on your phone during that interaction, TikTok may suggest that person to you.
This feature’s importance lies in facilitating social discovery and expanding user networks on the platform. The intention is to connect individuals who might have offline relationships or shared acquaintances, fostering engagement and community building. Historically, social media platforms have utilized contact list integration to accelerate user growth and enhance the social experience. The matching process isn’t always transparent to the user, leading to questions about privacy and data handling practices, hence the concern to not know them from suggested contacts.
