What's the difference between friends and following?

A friend is a mutual follow (you both follow each other). "Following" lists all your follows, even one-way ones.

Can I see someone else's friends list?

You can see their following and followers if they're public, but the "Friends" tab (mutuals) mainly applies to your own account.

Tap "Message" next to their name to open a private conversation.

Difficulty : EasyDuration : 1 minUpdated on 2026-07-12by The WikiTheo team

On TikTok, your "friends" are the accounts you follow that also follow you back. Here's how to view your friends list on TikTok, step by step.

Prefer a video? Watch the full tutorial below.

Open your profile
Open your profile and tap your following.
Tap "Profile" in the bottom right, then tap your "Following" (or "Followers") count at the top.
Open the "Friends" tab
The "Friends" tab lists your mutual follows.
At the top, open the "Friends" tab. These are the accounts you follow that also follow you "back".
Browse your friends list
From the list, message a friend or customize their name.
You'll see all your friends. Tap "Message" to write, or "…" to customize their name.

You now know your TikTok "friends", meaning your mutual follows. The "Following" and "Followers" tabs show you the one-way relationships instead.

What's the difference between friends and following?: A friend is a mutual follow (you both follow each other). "Following" lists all your follows, even one-way ones.
Can I see someone else's friends list?: You can see their following and followers if they're public, but the "Friends" tab (mutuals) mainly applies to your own account.
How do I message a friend from the list?: Tap "Message" next to their name to open a private conversation.