TikTok Mentions: How to Track them in 2026?

Updated: March 3, 2026
8 min read

TikTok Mentions help you instantly see who’s talking about your brand, products, or campaigns, and why. Track conversations in real time, spot trends early, and turn attention into action.

Key takeaways

  • What are TikTok mentions?

    Mentions are text in which users talk about your brand on TikTok, either by tagging (@username) or untagged references (brand names, hashtags, product names, etc.).

  • How can I track TikTok mentions?

    Manually – use TikTok’s notifications & search (limited, time-consuming). Or using advanced tools – capture tagged + untagged mentions, analyze reach, sentiment, and spikes with AI features (fast, detailed).

  • Why tracking mentions is important?

    Monitoring TikTok mentions help you boost brand visibility & engagement, respond to feedback quickly, and understand customer sentiment & trends. (In general – gives you insights to perform better)

What are TikTok Mentions?

On TikTok, a mention occurs when a user tags another user’s username in their video caption or comment using the “@” symbol.

It is less popular, but it also happens – mentions on TikTok Story. These are also added by the “@username”.

This direct shout-out can significantly boost your brand’s presence. Plus, it shows you how to get directly to the valuable user-generated content you can reuse on your brand’s socials.

Benefits of tracking mentions on TikTok:

  • Increased engagement by connecting directly with users who mention your brand.
  • Improving your brand awareness through organic and viral content sharing.
  • Allowing you to immediately respond to user feedback, enhancing customer service and brand e-reputation.
  • Helping you better understand your customers and find new potential audiences.
  • Helping you understand trends, enabling more targeted and effective content strategies. 

💡 Why TikTok mentions matter in 2026?

Mentions boost your visibility. In 2026, TikTok mentions influence how your brand is understood and surfaced by Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT.

LLMs analyze online conversations, articles, and social media mentions to build context around brands. Even if your brand name isn’t linked, every mention strengthens your digital footprint.

The stronger your online presence, the higher the likelihood that AI tools will reference your brand in their responses.

Find TikTok mentions!
Start Trial!

But not every mention will be tagged.

I can even risk a statement that half of your brand mentions won’t be tagged. So, how do you ensure you get relevant data and also monitor those untagged mentions?

This is where advanced social media monitoring tools step in.

They can easily capture those untagged yet valuable mentions and help you analyze them for reach, sentiment, topics, and so much more!

This is what an untagged mention detected by Brand24 looks like:

But tracking mentions isn’t just about finding them. It’s about digging into their stories. What do they tell us?

Every mention is a piece of a puzzle that helps us sharpen our TikTok marketing strategy.

How to track TikTok mentions?

01 Manual tracking

You can start using the TikTok app itself.

Regarding tagged mentions, it has this cool feature that enables you to filter your notifications so you can see just the ones about being tagged.

Isn’t it great?

But the tough part is with the untagged mentions.

You can try to find them manually by simply typing in your brand’s name or associated hashtags in the TikTok’s search bar.

This way, you’ll probably be able to find a few places where you’re mentioned.

I tried it and typed “Coachella” to see if I could find any relevant mentions.

Trying to find relevant untagged mentions manually. "Coachella" searching results.
“Coachella” search results.

Sadly, the results are just the most popular videos and the official account. Making this method effective would be super time-consuming (especially with a high volume of mentions)

Plus, it misses some mentions and lacks in-depth analytics, such as social media reach and sentiment.

That’s why a much more efficient way to monitor your TikTok mentions is using advanced social listening tools.

02 Using a social media monitoring tool

These tools offer a comprehensive way to monitor mentions across various platforms, including TikTok.

They are designed to track public mentions, hashtags, and virtually any keyword associated with your brand.

The advantage? They don’t just collect data; they analyze it, providing insights from many new sources.

Brand24, for instance, helps you discover discussions (also those not tagged directly) across:

  • Social media platforms
  • Review sites
  • Podcasts
  • Forums
  • Other publicly available sources

It makes it a robust tool for comprehensive social listening.

Understand your TikTok mentions!
Start Trial!

Tip: Use Events Detector feature

Check this one out – Events feature that identifies any spikes in your brand mentions and instantly explains what happened that caused the spike:

I honestly don’t know if I could find out that Billie Eilish’s appearance created so much buzz on TikTok myself. 

How to analyze TikTok mentions to gain insights?

Advanced tools like Brand24 enhance analysis by providing automated social media insights.

Comparison Tab

I knew about the Coachellas’ performance thanks to the Compare periods tab. It offers a comprehensive view of project stats and enables data comparison within a specific timeframe.

Here’s what it looks like for Coachella in April vs in May (just on TikTok):

And these are the overall results it got on all platforms that Brand24 monitors:

AI Insights

This feature is great if you don’t want to waste time on analysis and just want the conclusions immediately. 

It sifts through your TikTok mentions and pinpoints the key takeaways automatically.

This is what an AI-based Summary looks like:

It offers:

  • An overview of peak activities and when they occur.
  • Insights into specific spikes or drops in social mentions and their possible reasons.
  • Trends indicating significant changes in the number of mentions, including increases or decreases.
  • Sentiment analysis showing fluctuations in positive and negative mentions over time.
  • Recommendations for capitalizing on trends, addressing feedback, and strategic partnerships.

AI Brand Assistant

And if you don’t want to read it all, there’s a fun feature in Brand24 – AI Brand Assistant.

You can ask for an analysis of a specific data set in your project or simply give you an answer about your brand if you don’t want to browse the tool:

With Brand24, you can fast-track to the essential conclusions and make informed decisions about your brand’s presence on TikTok.

Use AI to track your TikTok mentions!
Start Trial!

Conclusion

So, which should you choose? Using just the app or external TikTok monitoring tools for mentions?

For smaller brands, native TikTok tools might suffice, but not without surprises, as you saw).

However, an advanced monitoring tool is invaluable for garnering thousands of monthly mentions.

It automates the collection and analysis of media mentions and helps navigate the complexities of online brand presence.

Final thoughts:

  • Always stay engaged with the conversation around your brand. Quick responses to mentions can transform a one-time mention into a loyal customer.
  • Track the quantity and quality of mentions to understand your brand’s impact fully.
  • Look for ways to simplify your efforts. Perhaps using AI features is the way to go? 

FAQ

How do TikTok mentions work?

A user types “@” followed by your username and selects your account. You receive a notification, and the mention becomes clickable.

Where can I see who mentioned my brand on TikTok?

You can see tagged mentions in your TikTok notifications. To find untagged brand mentions, you need a social listening tool.

Why are TikTok mentions important for brands?

They show who is talking about your brand in real time. Mentions help you track awareness, engagement, trends, and potential reputation risks.

How can I track TikTok mentions in real time?

You can monitor notifications manually in the app. For full coverage, including untagged mentions, use a social listening tool.

What’s the difference between a mention and a tag on TikTok?

A mention uses “@username” in captions or comments. A tag usually refers to tagging someone directly in a video before posting.

Can someone mention my brand without tagging my account?

Yes. Users can write your brand name without using “@”. These mentions do not trigger notifications.

How do I respond to TikTok mentions?

Reply quickly and stay authentic. Thank users for positive mentions and address concerns clearly and professionally.

Can TikTok mentions help with influencer marketing?

Yes. Mentions help you identify creators already talking about your brand. This makes it easier to find potential influencer partners.

Why am I not seeing all my TikTok mentions?

You may miss untagged mentions, misspellings, or private account posts. Native notifications only show tagged mentions.

Can I track competitor mentions on TikTok?

Yes, but not inside the TikTok app. You need a social media monitoring tool to track competitor brand mentions.

Are TikTok mentions available for personal accounts?

Yes. Both personal and business accounts can receive mentions if users tag them correctly.

Content Specialist and Social Listening Expert at Brand24
76 published articles
Magda is a Content Specialist and Social Listening Expert experienced in strategy, analytics, and content creation. When not writing, she's doing social media or building communities.
76 published articles

Article Reviewed by

Track Your TikTok Mentions!

Analyze mentions, reach, sentiment, reputation, and more!