For aesthetic reasons, TikTok uses various icons to represent functions and details within the app. If you are new to TikTok, or the platform releases a new feature, you may become confused as to the purpose or meaning behind it. This has been happening with a relatively new icon called the Yellow Eye.
The appearance of this new icon has got people wondering, “What does the Yellow Eye mean on TikTok?” We will explain the purpose of this icon, as well as some of the controversy surrounding it.
What Does the Yellow Eye Mean on TikTok?
The Yellow Eye icon has begun appearing when a content creator looks to see who liked one of their videos. The telltale sign that a user liked a creator’s video is known once a heart appears beside their profile photo. However, if a Yellow Eye appears instead of a heart, this means the user only watched the whole video but did not decide to like it.
The Yellow Eye icon shows a creator who watched their video but did not like it. This has led to issues due to creators feeling hurt and resentful when they know someone took the time to watch their video and then did not “heart” it.
To a creator, this sends the message that the person did not like the video they created and shared with their audience. Although strangers watching a video and not liking it will not sting much, seeing a close friend do the same certainly could.
How Creators Can Benefit From the Yellow Eye
The initial reaction by some people to the Yellow Eye was negative. After learning what this icon means, it became upsetting to some creators that there are followers who watch their videos but do not ‘heart’ them.
Although nobody is obligated to tap on the heart icon to like a video, creators become frustrated due to understanding how the algorithm works. Videos that get more views have a greater likelihood of getting pushed to more people. However, videos with both views and likes receive the greatest reach.
While seeing the Yellow Eye icon is sometimes seen in a negative light, it can actually be used by creators as a way to determine whether their content style needs to be polished or improved in some way. If a significant number of people are just watching their videos and not liking them, this could be less personal and more of a help to reflect on their content creation strategy.
Conclusion
If you were wondering, “What does the Yellow Eye mean on TikTok?” you now understand it shows up once a user watched your video but did not like it. This can be frustrating to creators who spend lots of time on their videos, especially if the followers who watch it but don’t like it are their friends. However, it can also be a helpful indicator that the content itself can be improved in some way.
