[tarotuser]

You can say "Use a VPN"... However on multiple VPN providers, Tiktok blocks those endpoints. Instead of the Tiktok feed, you get a rude 403 error for any page.

Tiktok really REALLY wants to know your real IP address.

(edit: this comment pertains to the web page through a browser, not the Tiktok app. I did not test the app+vpn.)

[filoleg]

Luckily, a good number of modern home routers support a one-click easy host-your-own-VPN feature.

I have an Amplifi router, and i simply linked my phone to it once, and now I can toggle a VPN on my phone with just one click whenever I need it (just like any third-party VPN service), and it will route the connection through my home network.

No complicated setup, the entire first-time setup took a grand total of 2 minutes. And no one else besides me (and my dad, sometimes) uses that VPN endpoint, so it is extremely unlikely to get detected as a VPN by TikTok or any other service (unless they all just decide to ban my residential ip address).

[kerpotgh]

What’s the point of this? Isn’t it still your own IP address?

[filoleg]

The point is that the (presumably public or school) network I am connected to will have a hard time blocking any content for me (given it will only keep seeing packets between the phone in my hand and the router at my apartment). It will also encrypt my traffic, so MITMing me or trying to see what I am doing will become rather difficult even for the operator of the network I am connected to.

Edit: I think I just realized what made you confused in my original comment. I didn't specify explicitly, but it was implied that I toggle VPN on my phone when I am outside of my home and am connected to a work/public/etc network. Because otherwise, you are correct, trying to VPN through my home network while my phone is actually at home already connected to that network will serve no purpose at all.

[shortcake27]

Plenty of reasons. Many people need a VPN to either bypass network restrictions (like this) or add a bit more security to an untrusted network (eg, cafe wifi). Setting up your own VPN is free, and in some cases, more secure than a shady VPN provider.

[BudaDude]

Those endpoints could also be blocked for legitimate reasons. Many use common VPN endpoints for malicious intentions.

[LarryMullins]

The "legitimate reason" is that knowing information about their users is TikTok's business model.

[BudaDude]

It's also the business model of Google, Meta, Microsoft, and dozens of tech companies that are used everyday by users here without batting an eye. What is your point?

[LarryMullins]

I criticize American surveillance capitalism too. What is your point? Are you trying to accuse me of hypocrisy, without knowing anything about me?

[rchaud]

TikTok is hardly the only service that blocks what it thinks is VPN traffic. I only ever get captcha completion requests when I try to access sites via VPN.

[netsharc]

Huh, the app is already on your phone, if it wants to know your location, it can already do that. If it wants to know the ISP, it's also probably quite easy...

[boomboomsubban]

Or IP addresses associated with VPNs are often found to do things that violate TikTok's ToS.

[Nextgrid]

Read-only access can still be allowed. I suspect the "violation of ToS" is simply privacy - they don't want to serve traffic to someone they can't stalk.

[boomboomsubban]

Read-only access wouldn't prevent bots spamming views for ad revenue.

[rchaud]

Read-only access would still be enough to launch DDOS attacks. I've never heard of any social media service offering read-only access to logged in users.

[Nextgrid]

> I've never heard of any social media service offering read-only access to logged in users.

Twitter allows read-only access even to suspended accounts as well as when you go over certain rate-limits (I believe there was a daily tweet limit at one point, not sure if still there).

[cute_boi]

Well, Tiktok didn't ban vpn, it was those minority number of people who developed bots to capitalize likes/comments/shares. I think it is same with facebook or other social media.

[sudosysgen]

Never had a problem using TikTok (the app) behind Mullvad.