Can people repost your TikTok without permission?
If your videos are starting to get traction, especially if they’re going viral, there’s a good chance they’re also being reposted. Maybe someone stitched your TikTok without credit, or it showed up in a YouTube compilation you never approved. Maybe a meme page downloaded it and posted it under their own name.
It happens quickly. And it raises a question that a lot of creators like you don’t get a straight answer to:
Can someone legally do that? Can they repost your content without permission?
Well no, not really, but it’s more complicated than a yes or a no, you have more control than you think.
Your content is yours. That doesn’t change when you post it.
You automatically own the rights to your original content the moment you create it. That means when you film a TikTok, post a reel, or upload a short, it’s legally protected by copyright, even if it’s short, even if you’re using trending audio, even if you’re not a full-time creator.
Anyone reusing that content without your permission, whether it’s for a reaction video, a monetized compilation, or just a random repost, is using copyrighted material they don’t own.
Platforms like TikTok might allow remixing within their own features (like stitches and duets), but that permission doesn’t extend to third-party reposts on YouTube, Instagram, or anywhere else. Just because your content is “out there” doesn’t mean it’s up for grabs.
Credit doesn’t equal permission
Let’s be real: most reposts don’t come with a contract. At best, you get a casual tag in the caption. At worst, you get nothing, not even a mention. And the assumption seems to be that tagging you makes everything okay.
Does it though?
Giving credit is nice, but it’s not the same as getting permission. And it definitely doesn’t make up for the fact that someone is using your content to grow their views, followers, or even revenue. You might be credited, but they’re the ones getting paid.
If your video is being used to build someone else’s platform (especially if they’re monetizing it), then “credit in bio” doesn’t mean much.
Fair use isn’t a get-out-of-jail-free card
People love to say “it’s fair use” when they repost your content. But fair use isn’t just a casual excuse, it’s a specific legal defense. And most of the time, reposts don’t qualify.
Fair use generally applies when someone is using content for purposes like commentary, criticism, education, or parody, and when the new work is transformative. Just reposting your TikTok in a compilation? Not transformative. Slapping a reaction on top of it? Still questionable. Adding a caption and calling it a remix? Definitely not enough.
If someone’s reposting your content to entertain their followers, grow their channel, or run ads on your video, there’s a good chance they’re not using it legally, even if they think they are.
This affects you even if you’re not “big” yet
A lot of creators assume this only happens when you have hundreds of thousands of followers, or if your video has hit a million views. But the truth is, most reposts happen to creators with smaller audiences.
Why? Because your content feels fresh. Relatable. Real. It’s exactly the kind of video that fits into a fails compilation or a “funniest moments” montage.
Repost accounts, meme pages, and YouTube channels are constantly looking for content that people will engage with, but they often take it from creators who are less likely to notice. Or less likely to do something about it.
That doesn’t mean you’re powerless. It means you’re a target. And that’s exactly why this matters.
You can take action, without starting drama
You don’t need to spend your time hunting down reposts, sending angry messages, or trying to file copyright claims manually. Most creators don’t have the time, energy, or knowledge to do that, and you shouldn’t have to.
What you can do is use tools designed to help you stay in control of your work. Platforms like Caaldron scan sites like YouTube to find where your content is being reposted. If they detect a match, they’ll help you claim the video and collect the ad revenue it’s earning. No confrontation. No drama. Just quiet justice.
You made the content. You should be the one getting paid for it.
Reposts might feel normal, but that doesn’t mean they’re always right.
Repost culture makes it easy to feel like this is just the way it works. But that’s only true if no one pushes back.
You don’t need to stop sharing. You don’t need to stop going viral. You just deserve to have a say in where your content goes, and what happens to it after it leaves your account.
Because at the end of the day, your content is your work. Your work has value. And you’re allowed to protect it.
Want to see where your videos are being reposted?
Start tracking with Caaldron — it’s free, fast, and built for creators like you.