How to See Mentions on TikTok

Spotting a mention on TikTok is more than just a notification - it's a sign that someone in your community is talking about you, creating content with your brand, or pulling you into a conversation. Learning how to see mentions on TikTok isn't just about stroking your ego, it's a fundamental part of building a community, spotting user-generated content, and strengthening your brand. This guide will walk you through exactly where to find your mentions, what to do with them, and how to turn these simple notifications into powerful opportunities for growth.

What Are TikTok Mentions (and Why Are They Gold)?

Before jumping into the "how," let's quickly cover the "what" and "why." A mention on TikTok happens when another user types "@" followed by your username in their video's caption, in a comment, or in a TikTok Story. When they post it, you get a notification letting you know you've been mentioned.

This is different from a tag, where a user can directly tag your profile on the video itself, similar to how photo tagging works on other platforms. While mentions and tags are closely related and often happen together, finding them is a similar process. For brands, creators, and anyone looking to grow an audience, mentions are invaluable. Here's why:

• It's a direct line to User-Generated Content (UGC). When a user creates a video reviewing your product, using your sound, or just shouting you out, that's powerful, authentic marketing collateral. Mentions are how you find this UGC.
• It builds social proof. Every public mention is a small testament to your relevance. It shows other users that you are an active and recognized part of a community or niche.
• It's a huge engagement signal. The TikTok algorithm pays attention to interactions. When other people are mentioning you, it signals that your account is part of larger conversations, which can boost your visibility.
• It opens the door to collaboration. Spotting mentions from other creators in your niche could be the start of a beautiful partnership.

Ignoring mentions is like ignoring someone who walks into your store and asks a question. It's a missed connection. Now, let's make sure you never miss one again.

How to See Mentions On TikTok: The Direct Inbox Method

For most users, this is the quickest and most straightforward way to find your recent mentions. TikTok conveniently funnels most of your key notifications into one place. Here's the step-by-step process.

Step 1: Navigate to Your TikTok Inbox

Open the TikTok app on your mobile device. Look at the bottom navigation bar - you'll see icons for "Home," "Now," the "+" create button, "Shop" or "Friends", and "Inbox." Tap on the Inbox icon on the far right. This is your central hub for all direct messages and account activity.

Step 2: Tap on "Activities"

The Inbox page shows your direct messages by default. At the top of the screen, you'll see a small drop-down for 'All Messages' or similar text, along with a top navigation bar of sorts. Look for the button or link that says "Activities." Tap that. This will take you away from your private messages and into the feed of all your public interactions - likes, comments, new followers, and, of course, mentions and tags.

Step 3: Look for Mentions in the "All activity" Feed

Your "Activities" feed is a chronological list of everything happening with your account. You'll need to scroll through this list to see your mentions. Fortunately, TikTok makes them easy to spot. Look for notifications that explicitly say:

• "[Username] mentioned you in their video."
• "[Username] mentioned you in a comment."
• "[Username] tagged you in their video."

Each notification is a clickable link. Tapping on a video mention will take you directly to the clip where your username was included in the caption. Tapping on a comment mention will take you straight to the comment thread where someone tagged you. This simple, easy access makes responding in the moment incredibly simple.

A few years ago, TikTok offered clear filter buttons at the top of the "Activities" page for things like "Likes," "Comments," and "Mentions." The interface has since become more streamlined, rolling most of these into the "All activity" feed. While it means you can't isolate mentions with a single tap, a quick scroll every day is all you need to stay on top of who's talking about you.

Advanced Techniques for Finding Mentions You Might Have Missed

While the inbox method catches most mentions in real-time, notifications can sometimes get lost in the noise, especially if you have an active account that gets hundreds of interactions a day. Or maybe a bug just prevented a notification from coming through. Here are a couple of other ways to find mentions without relying on the Activities feed.

1. Use the TikTok Search Bar

This is a highly effective way to uncover public videos that mentioned you, even if the notification didn't reach you. It's like performing a mini-audit for your brand name.

• Go to the Search Page: Tap the magnifying glass icon at the top right of the "Home" screen to open the search page.
• Search Your Username: In the search bar, type your exact TikTok handle, including the "@" symbol. For example, if your username is "sunsetdiner," you would search for "@sunsetdiner".
• Filter for Videos: After searching, the results will display a mix of users, sounds, and hashtags. Tap the "Videos" tab at the top to filter the results to only show videos.
• Review the Results: Now, scroll through the video feed. This will show public videos where your handle was included in the caption. This method won't catch mentions in the comments, but it's a lifesaver for finding high-effort UGC that features your brand or profile directly in the description. It's a great habit to run this search once a week.

2. Search for Common Misspellings or Variations

If your username is easy to misspell, consider searching for common variations. For example, if your handle is @KathrynsBakery, a user in a hurry might type @KatherinesBakery. Searching these variations can help you find well-intentioned mentions that tagged the wrong (or a non-existent) account.

Best Practices: What to Do After You Find a Mention

Finding the mention is only the first step. Your response is what turns a simple notification into relationship-building and community management. How you engage will depend on the type of mention and your brand's voice, but here are some universal strategies that work for everyone from solo creators to massive brands.

Acknowledge Every Positive Mention You Can

For accounts that aren't getting millions of mentions a week, make it a goal to acknowledge everyone who tags you positively. It doesn't have to be a paragraph-long response.

• The minimum: Like the video or comment. It's a small, zero-effort gesture that tells the creator, "I see you, and I appreciate you."
• A better response: Leave a thoughtful comment. Go beyond "Thanks for the tag!" Your comment should be personal and relevant. If someone posted a beautiful video of your product, comment something like, "Wow, this looks amazing! The lighting you captured is perfect."

Amplify and Repurpose User-Generated Content

When a creator posts a glowing review or a creative video featuring your product, it's a gift. Don't let it go to waste. Ask for permission to share it on your own profile.

How to Ask for Permission:

Keep it simple and direct. Leave a public comment or send a quick DM. Something like:

"We absolutely LOVE this video! Would it be okay if we shared it on our profile? We'll give you full credit in the caption, of course! ❤️"

Most creators will be thrilled to get the extra exposure.

How to Share:

Once you have permission, you have a few options:

• Use the Stitch or Duet features: Stitch the video to add your own commentary at the end, or Duet it to show your real-time reaction. This is a fantastic way to both share the UGC and add your own personality to it.
• Download and re-upload: If the user is okay with it, you can download the video (with no watermark using a third-party tool if possible, so it feels more native) and upload it directly to your feed. Make sure to prominently credit the original creator in your caption (e.g., "Incredible video by the talented @[creator's handle]!").
• Share to your TikTok Story: For a less permanent-feeling shoutout, you can share their video directly to your Story. It's a low-effort way to show love without crowding your main feed.

Monitor for Feedback and Sentiment

Not all mentions will be glowing praise. Someone might mention you to complain about an experience or ask a critical question. Consider these mentions as opportunities, not attacks. Responding professionally to negative feedback in public can do more for your brand reputation than a dozen positive reviews.

• Respond calmly and helpfully. Thank them for their feedback and offer to resolve the issue.
• Take the conversation offline. If it's a sensitive customer service issue, a good public response is, "We're so sorry to hear this. Please send us a DM with your order number so we can look into this for you right away." This shows you're responsive while protecting their privacy.

Final Thoughts

Seeing your mentions on TikTok is a straightforward process, primarily managed through your Inbox's Activities feed and backed up by clever use of the search bar. More importantly, treating mentions as conversations waiting to happen transforms them from a simple notification into a powerful tool for growing your brand, engaging your community, and finding your best advocates.

Tracking these interactions across TikTok, Instagram Threads, and all your other social channels can feel like a full-time job. As our own social media presence grew, we saw firsthand how easy it was to miss an important comment or a great piece of UGC while juggling a dozen different apps. That's why we built our unified social inbox at Postbase. It brings all your comments and mentions from every platform into one clean, organized feed, so you can respond to everyone without losing your mind.