Summary of External Link Restrictions on TikTok, X, and YouTube and the Role of Link in Bio
Introduction
Each social media platform has its own rules for handling 'external links'. Even if you want to direct your hard-earned followers to your own site or service, not understanding the specifications can lead to restrictions such as 'links cannot be posted' or 'links cannot be clicked'.
This article organizes the external link restrictions on TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, and explains the role that Link in Bio plays in this context.
TikTok's External Link Restrictions
TikTok imposes strong restrictions on the use of external links to avoid compromising the user experience.
- Only business accounts can set URLs in their profile section
- In some regions, external links are not allowed for personal accounts
- Video captions cannot contain clickable links directly embedded
👉 Role of Link in Bio Since TikTok limits the links that can be placed in profiles, Link in Bio is essential for consolidating multiple pathways. It allows you to aggregate links to campaign pages, e-commerce sites, and other social networks into 'one link'.
X's External Link Restrictions
X appears to have a high degree of freedom with links, but there are subtle restrictions.
- Only one link can be set in the profile
- It is possible to post links in tweets, but shortened URLs and some domains are restricted
- Links that violate advertising rules may risk account suspension
👉 Role of Link in Bio By consolidating the link in the profile to Link in Bio, multiple communication channels can be organized. Additionally, by attaching Link in Bio to a pinned post, you can always present the latest pathways to your followers.
YouTube's External Link Restrictions
YouTube is very conscious about whether external links are set to 'approved sites'.
- Links can be placed in video descriptions, channel descriptions, and cards
- However, unapproved domains may be deactivated
- There may be restrictions on ad revenue if it's not an 'associated site' that has passed the review
👉 Role of Link in Bio Using Link in Bio as a 'unified domain' allows you to centralize links from YouTube, reducing approval risks. Also, simply adding 'See the latest link here' in the video description is sufficient, keeping the description simple.
Summary
TikTok, X, and YouTube all impose restrictions on the handling of external links.
- TikTok → Profile URL is limited to business accounts
- X → Only one profile link, shortened URLs are restricted
- YouTube → Unapproved domains may be deactivated
Link in Bio helps organize multiple links, avoid risks, and create a consistent pathway across these constraints.
👉 If you are also interested in Instagram's external link restrictions, we recommend this article: Instagram's External Link Restrictions and the Role of Link in Bio
