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TikTok uses an internal content classification system to understand what a video is about and decide who should see it. This classification directly affects distribution, recommendations on the For You Page (FYP), and overall performance. Understanding how TikTok categorizes your content can help you optimize reach and engagement.

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How TikTok Determines Video Categories

TikTok does not publicly show the category of a video, but it analyzes multiple signals to classify your content:
  1. Video Content Analysis
    TikTok uses AI to analyze visual elements, objects, scenes, and actions in your video. For example, workout movements may signal Fitness & Health, while gameplay footage may indicate Games.
  2. Audio and Speech Recognition
    Spoken words, lyrics, and background music are analyzed. Singing or choreography often places a video under Singing & Dancing, while dialogue-based skits may fall into Comedy or Drama.
  3. Captions, Hashtags, and Text Overlays
    Keywords in captions, hashtags, and on-screen text strongly influence classification. For instance, hashtags like #skincare or #makeuptutorial push content toward Beauty Care.
  4. User Interaction Signals
    Early engagement plays a key role. If users who frequently watch sports-related content engage with your video, TikTok may classify it under Sports.
  5. Creator History
    Your past content matters. If you consistently post tech reviews, new uploads are more likely to be categorized as Technology.

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Common TikTok Content Categories

Below are some common categories TikTok may assign to videos:
Category IDName
100Anime & Comics
101Shows
102Beauty Care
103Games
104Comedy
105Daily Life
106Family
107Relationship
108Drama
109Outfit
110Lip Sync
111Food
112Sports
113Animals
114Society
115Cars
116Education
117Fitness & Health
118Technology
119Singing & Dancing

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How to Identify a Video’s Category

Although TikTok does not show the category directly, you can infer it by using the TikTok API with the Get Post Detail endpoint For example: 
curl --request GET \
  --url 'https://tiktok-api23.p.rapidapi.com/api/post/detail?videoId=7572198435487501598' \
  --header 'x-rapidapi-key: <api-key>'
Response