TikTok tracks you even if you don’t use the app: how it collects your data and what you can do about it
The advertising pixel extends tracking even outside its platform and without having a profile created.
It is to be expected that a social network collects data from its users. What many people do not know is that TikTok can also track people who have never downloaded its app. Its tracking system spans thousands of websites and can collect particularly sensitive information.
This tracking is done through a tool known as a “pixel,” an invisible element embedded in websites that allows information about visitors to be sent to the platform.
The pixel: the invisible tracker
Advertising pixels have been used for years by technology companies and advertising networks. They are pieces of code that companies insert into their pages to find out what users are doing: what they visit, what they buy, or what they search for. In the case of TikTok, this tool allows the platform to receive data from anyone who visits a website that has its pixel installed, regardless of whether they have an account or not.
Several recent investigations by cybersecurity company Disconnect detected particularly sensitive situations. For example, websites sent information to TikTok when users:
- They indicated that they were cancer patients or survivors.
- They consulted fertility tests.
- They sought psychological help in crisis situations.
In some cases, this information included the user’s email address. Patrick Jackson, chief technology officer at Disconnect, described this system as “extremely invasive.” TikTok maintains that websites are responsible for complying with privacy laws and that the platform prohibits the sharing of sensitive data. It also claims that it informs users about its practices and offers control tools.
An internet-wide system
Pixel tracking is not unique to TikTok. Companies such as Google and Meta have been using similar technologies for years. According to privacy company DuckDuckGo:
- TikTok has trackers on 5% of major websites.
- Meta is present on 21%.
- Google reaches nearly 72%.
These systems allow detailed profiles to be created about individuals, including their interests, concerns, and needs. Experts warn that this information can be used not only to display advertising but also to influence purchasing decisions, apply different prices depending on the user, or even be used in political campaigns.
Recent changes that increase tracking
The TikTok system has recently evolved. In January 2026, the platform updated its pixel as part of a new advertising network. Previously, this tool was mainly used to measure whether ads were working within TikTok. Now it can also track users when they leave the app and perform actions on other websites, such as purchasing a product.
Furthermore, according to Disconnect, the pixel can automatically collect information that websites send to other advertising systems, which could further expand the scope of tracking. TikTok denies that this is inappropriate and claims that site owners can configure their pages to limit the information shared.
How can I protect myself?
Although avoiding TikTok is not enough to prevent tracking, some measures can reduce it.
- Change your browser
Experts recommend using privacy-focused browsers such as DuckDuckGo or Brave. Others such as Firefox or Safari also offer more protection than Google Chrome, which according to preliminary research leaks more data than its competitors.
- Use tracker blockers
Extensions such as uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger, Ghostery, or AdBlock Plus can block many trackers, including the TikTok pixel. However, it is important to only install them from reliable sources.
- Request data deletion
TikTok states that users can delete the data collected from the app settings, and that people without accounts can also request its deletion.
A broader problem
Even so, experts warn that blocking the pixel does not solve everything. Many companies send data directly to large platforms from their own servers, a process that is invisible to the user. Therefore, they recommend avoiding using the same personal information across all online services, to make it more difficult to create complete profiles.
The ultimate solution
Specialists agree that the problem is not limited to TikTok, but to the general model of digital advertising. These tools allow companies to learn very intimate details about people’s lives, often without them being aware of it.
Until stricter regulations are put in place, users themselves bear some of the responsibility. Changing browsers, using ad blockers, and limiting the personal information you share are currently the best defenses against a tracking system that works even when you’re not using the app.
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