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TikTok for Developers
Research API
TikTok supports independent research about our platform. Through our Research API, academic researchers from non-profit universities in the U.S. and Europe can apply to study public data about TikTok content and accounts. We're working to provide increased access to the Research API in the future.
What data is available?With the Research API, researchers can access public data on:
Accounts
This includes user profiles, and other data such as the number of likes of creator's content, followers and following count.
Content
For more information on the data returned via our APIs, check out the Research API Codebook
Who can apply?
Applicants must fulfill the following criteria to qualify for access:
  • Have demonstrable academic experience and expertise in the research area specified in the application
  • Have no conflicts of interest with respect to using the services
  • Be employed by a non-profit academic institution in the U.S. or Europe
  • Be able to provide a clearly defined research proposal
  • Be committed to only using data for non-commercial purposes, as set out in our Research API Terms of Service
How it works
01
Create research accountAfter ensuring your eligibility, create a TikTok for Developers account using your university/ institute-issued email address
02
Submit applicationComplete and submit the application form by providing details about you, your organization, and research topic
03
Wait for approvalYou can typically expect to hear back from us within 3-4 weeks of submission
Once approved, read the Getting Started guide to learn more about how to access your Research APIs.
Need to work with a team?
You can add collaborators to your research topic for shared access to datasets. Note: It's preferable that you share details about your collaborators in your application form. If your collaborators are from a different university, make sure to submit separate applications for each university. To learn more, check out How to manage an organization.
Applying as a Ph.D. candidate?You will need to submit an endorsement letter from a professor or dissertation advisor. You can download a sample letter here.
How to access research data
Once your application is approved, check out our Getting Started with Research API guide for step-by-step instructions on how to access research data.
View guide
Questions?
Check out our FAQ to learn more about Research API access
Need additional help? Contact us via Support