How to Summarize TikTok Videos at Scale - AI-Powered Summaries

November 18, 2025•Jonathan Geiger

TikTok APIAI SummariesVideo AnalysisContent CurationAutomation

Need to summarize TikTok videos at scale? Whether you're tracking viral trends, curating content, or analyzing competitor strategies, manually watching hundreds of TikTok videos is time-consuming and inefficient.

In this guide, we'll show you how to generate AI-powered summaries from TikTok videos at scale using the TikTok Summary API - automatically extract key insights without watching every video.

What Can You Generate?

The TikTok Summary API provides AI-powered video analysis:

Smart Summaries - Concise overviews of TikTok video content
Trend Identification - Identify trending topics and themes
Key Messages - Extract the main point of each video
Custom Fields - Define your own summary structure (hashtags, vibes, target audience)
Flexible Output - Control summary format and length
Batch Processing - Summarize hundreds of TikToks efficiently
Viral Content Analysis - Understand what makes content go viral

Video Tutorial

Watch this step-by-step tutorial on summarizing TikTok videos:

The Easy Way: TikTok Summary API

The simplest and most powerful method is using the TikTok Summary API. Here's why:

✅ AI-Powered - GPT-powered summaries that understand TikTok context
✅ Customizable - Define your own summary structure and fields
✅ Fast & Reliable - Summarize videos in seconds
✅ Trend-Aware - Captures viral hooks and engagement patterns
✅ Scalable - Process thousands of TikToks automatically
✅ No Manual Watching - Eliminate hours of scrolling and note-taking

API Endpoint

https://api.socialkit.dev/tiktok/summarize

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`url`	string	Yes	TikTok video URL
`access_key`	string	Yes	Your API access key
`custom_response`	object/string	No	Define custom fields for the AI response
`custom_prompt`	string	No	Add your own instructions to guide the AI's analysis

Example Request

GET https://api.socialkit.dev/tiktok/summarize?access_key=<your-access-key>&url=https://www.tiktok.com/@user/video/1234567890

Example Response

{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@thepeteffect/video/7522711492140059912",
    "summary": "The video explains five reasons why cats might randomly attack their owners, including play aggression, overstimulation, redirected aggression, territorial behavior, and lack of socialization. It also provides tips on how to prevent these attacks by recognizing warning signs and respecting the cat's boundaries.",
    "mainTopics": ["Cat Behavior", "Pet Care", "Animal Psychology"],
    "keyPoints": [
      "Play aggression occurs when cats see hands or feet as prey targets.",
      "Overstimulation from excessive petting can trigger defensive responses.",
      "Redirected aggression happens when cats transfer frustration to nearby humans.",
      "Territorial behavior drives cats to assert dominance in their space.",
      "Poor early socialization makes cats perceive human touch as threatening."
    ],
    "tone": "Educational and informative",
    "targetAudience": "Cat owners and pet enthusiasts",
    "quotes": [
      "Ever been randomly attacked by your cat and thought, what did I do?",
      "Don't over pet and always respect their personal bubble."
    ],
    "timeline": "The video systematically presents five reasons for cat aggression, followed by practical prevention tips and warning signs to watch for."
  }
}

Code Examples

JavaScript / Node.js

const axios = require('axios');

async function summarizeTikTokVideo(videoUrl, accessKey, customPrompt = null) {
  try {
    const params = {
      access_key: accessKey,
      url: videoUrl
    };
    
    if (customPrompt) {
      params.prompt = customPrompt;
    }
    
    const response = await axios.get('https://api.socialkit.dev/tiktok/summarize', {
      params: params
    });
    
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error summarizing TikTok video:', error);
    throw error;
  }
}

// Basic usage
const videoUrl = 'https://www.tiktok.com/@user/video/1234567890';
const accessKey = 'your-access-key';

summarizeTikTokVideo(videoUrl, accessKey)
  .then(data => {
    console.log('Summary:', data.data.summary);
    console.log('\nMain Topics:', data.data.mainTopics);
    console.log('Tone:', data.data.tone);
    console.log('Target Audience:', data.data.targetAudience);
  });

// With custom prompt for trend analysis
const trendPrompt = `
Analyze this TikTok video:
{
  "main_hook": "opening hook used",
  "content_type": "dance/comedy/education/etc",
  "viral_elements": ["what makes it engaging"],
  "target_audience": "who this appeals to",
  "trending_sounds": "if using trending audio",
  "hashtag_strategy": ["key hashtags used"],
  "engagement_prediction": "low/medium/high potential"
}
`;

summarizeTikTokVideo(videoUrl, accessKey, trendPrompt)
  .then(data => {
    const analysis = JSON.parse(data.data.summary);
    console.log('Viral Elements:', analysis.viral_elements);
  });

Python

import requests
import json

def summarize_tiktok_video(video_url, access_key, custom_prompt=None):
    endpoint = 'https://api.socialkit.dev/tiktok/summarize'
    
    params = {
        'access_key': access_key,
        'url': video_url
    }
    
    if custom_prompt:
        params['prompt'] = custom_prompt
    
    response = requests.get(endpoint, params=params)
    response.raise_for_status()
    
    return response.json()

# Basic usage
video_url = 'https://www.tiktok.com/@user/video/1234567890'
access_key = 'your-access-key'

data = summarize_tiktok_video(video_url, access_key)
print(f"Summary: {data['data']['summary']}")
print(f"\nMain Topics: {', '.join(data['data']['mainTopics'])}")
print(f"Tone: {data['data']['tone']}")
print(f"\nKey Points:")
for point in data['data']['keyPoints']:
    print(f"  • {point}")

# Custom prompt for content curation
curation_prompt = """
Summarize this TikTok for content curation:
{
  "one_line_summary": "single sentence description",
  "vibe": "funny/inspiring/educational/emotional",
  "best_for": "target platform or audience",
  "key_message": "main takeaway",
  "repost_potential": "1-10 rating"
}
"""

data = summarize_tiktok_video(video_url, access_key, curation_prompt)
curated = json.loads(data['data']['summary'])

print(f"\nVibe: {curated['vibe']}")
print(f"Best for: {curated['best_for']}")
print(f"Repost potential: {curated['repost_potential']}/10")

PHP

<?php

function summarizeTikTokVideo($videoUrl, $accessKey, $customPrompt = null) {
    $endpoint = 'https://api.socialkit.dev/tiktok/summarize';
    
    $params = [
        'access_key' => $accessKey,
        'url' => $videoUrl
    ];
    
    if ($customPrompt) {
        $params['prompt'] = $customPrompt;
    }
    
    $url = $endpoint . '?' . http_build_query($params);
    
    $response = file_get_contents($url);
    return json_decode($response, true);
}

// Usage
$videoUrl = 'https://www.tiktok.com/@user/video/1234567890';
$accessKey = 'your-access-key';

$data = summarizeTikTokVideo($videoUrl, $accessKey);

echo "Summary:\n" . $data['data']['summary'] . "\n\n";
echo "Main Topics: " . implode(", ", $data['data']['mainTopics']) . "\n";
echo "Tone: " . $data['data']['tone'] . "\n";

cURL

# Basic summary
curl -X GET "https://api.socialkit.dev/tiktok/summarize?access_key=your-access-key&url=https://www.tiktok.com/@user/video/1234567890"

# With custom prompt
curl -X GET "https://api.socialkit.dev/tiktok/summarize?access_key=your-access-key&url=https://www.tiktok.com/@user/video/1234567890&prompt=Summarize%20in%20one%20sentence"

Advanced Use Cases

1. Viral Trend Detector

Identify viral patterns across multiple TikToks:

async function analyzeViralTrends(videoUrls, accessKey) {
  const trendPrompt = `
  Analyze viral elements:
  {
    "hook_type": "how video starts",
    "pacing": "fast/medium/slow",
    "music_trend": "trending sound yes/no",
    "visual_style": "editing approach",
    "call_to_action": "what viewers are asked to do",
    "viral_score": "1-10 prediction"
  }
  `;
  
  const analyses = await Promise.all(
    videoUrls.map(url => summarizeTikTokVideo(url, accessKey, trendPrompt))
  );
  
  const trends = analyses.map(a => JSON.parse(a.data.summary));
  
  // Aggregate insights
  const commonHooks = [...new Set(trends.map(t => t.hook_type))];
  const avgViralScore = trends.reduce((sum, t) => sum + parseInt(t.viral_score), 0) / trends.length;
  const usingTrendingMusic = trends.filter(t => t.music_trend === 'yes').length;
  
  return {
    total_analyzed: trends.length,
    common_hooks: commonHooks,
    avg_viral_score: avgViralScore.toFixed(1),
    using_trending_music_pct: ((usingTrendingMusic / trends.length) * 100).toFixed(0) + '%',
    detailed_analyses: trends
  };
}

// Usage
const viralVideos = [
  'https://www.tiktok.com/@user1/video/123',
  'https://www.tiktok.com/@user2/video/456',
  'https://www.tiktok.com/@user3/video/789'
];

analyzeViralTrends(viralVideos, 'your-key')
  .then(insights => {
    console.log('Viral Insights:', insights);
  });

2. Content Curation for Repurposing

Find TikToks suitable for repurposing to other platforms:

def curate_for_repurposing(video_urls, access_key, target_platform):
    """Identify TikToks suitable for repurposing"""
    
    curation_prompt = f"""
    Evaluate this TikTok for repurposing to {target_platform}:
    {{
      "summary": "brief content description",
      "suitability": "1-10 rating for {target_platform}",
      "reasons": ["why it would/wouldn't work"],
      "adaptation_needed": "what changes needed",
      "target_audience_match": "how well audience aligns",
      "recommended_caption": "caption for {target_platform}"
    }}
    """
    
    suitable_videos = []
    
    for video_url in video_urls:
        try:
            data = summarize_tiktok_video(video_url, access_key, curation_prompt)
            analysis = json.loads(data['data']['summary'])
            
            if int(analysis['suitability']) >= 7:
                suitable_videos.append({
                    'url': video_url,
                    'analysis': analysis
                })
        except Exception as e:
            print(f"Error processing {video_url}: {e}")
            continue
    
    return sorted(suitable_videos, key=lambda x: int(x['analysis']['suitability']), reverse=True)

# Usage
tiktok_videos = [
    'https://www.tiktok.com/@creator1/video/111',
    'https://www.tiktok.com/@creator2/video/222',
    'https://www.tiktok.com/@creator3/video/333'
]

instagram_ready = curate_for_repurposing(tiktok_videos, 'your-key', 'Instagram Reels')

print(f"\nFound {len(instagram_ready)} videos suitable for Instagram Reels:")
for video in instagram_ready[:5]:
    print(f"\n{video['url']}")
    print(f"Suitability: {video['analysis']['suitability']}/10")
    print(f"Caption: {video['analysis']['recommended_caption']}")

3. Competitor Content Strategy Analysis

Analyze competitor TikTok strategies:

async function analyzeCompetitorStrategy(competitorVideos, accessKey) {
  const strategyPrompt = `
  Analyze content strategy:
  {
    "content_pillar": "education/entertainment/inspiration/etc",
    "posting_pattern": "daily/multiple per day/weekly",
    "engagement_tactics": ["tactics used"],
    "unique_angle": "what makes them different",
    "target_demo": "primary audience",
    "brand_voice": "personality/tone"
  }
  `;
  
  const analyses = await Promise.all(
    competitorVideos.map(url => summarizeTikTokVideo(url, accessKey, strategyPrompt))
  );
  
  const strategies = analyses.map(a => JSON.parse(a.data.summary));
  
  // Identify patterns
  const contentPillars = {};
  const allTactics = [];
  
  strategies.forEach(s => {
    contentPillars[s.content_pillar] = (contentPillars[s.content_pillar] || 0) + 1;
    allTactics.push(...s.engagement_tactics);
  });
  
  return {
    videos_analyzed: strategies.length,
    primary_pillars: Object.entries(contentPillars)
      .sort((a, b) => b[1] - a[1])
      .map(([pillar, count]) => ({ pillar, count, percentage: (count / strategies.length * 100).toFixed(0) + '%' })),
    common_tactics: [...new Set(allTactics)],
    unique_angles: strategies.map(s => s.unique_angle),
    target_demographics: [...new Set(strategies.map(s => s.target_demo))]
  };
}

4. Daily Trend Report Generator

Create automated daily reports of trending TikToks:

def generate_daily_trend_report(trending_video_urls, access_key):
    """Generate a daily report of trending TikToks"""
    
    report_prompt = """
    Create a trend report entry:
    {
      "trend_name": "name this trend",
      "description": "what's happening",
      "why_viral": "reason for popularity",
      "brands_using": "if brands are participating",
      "audience_reaction": "positive/mixed/negative",
      "longevity_prediction": "flash/medium/lasting trend"
    }
    """
    
    trend_reports = []
    
    for video_url in trending_video_urls:
        data = summarize_tiktok_video(video_url, access_key, report_prompt)
        report = json.loads(data['data']['summary'])
        
        trend_reports.append({
            'url': video_url,
            'report': report
        })
    
    # Generate markdown report
    date_str = datetime.now().strftime('%B %d, %Y')
    report_md = f"# TikTok Trend Report - {date_str}\n\n"
    
    for idx, item in enumerate(trend_reports, 1):
        r = item['report']
        report_md += f"## {idx}. {r['trend_name']}\n\n"
        report_md += f"**Description:** {r['description']}\n\n"
        report_md += f"**Why It's Viral:** {r['why_viral']}\n\n"
        report_md += f"**Audience Reaction:** {r['audience_reaction']}\n\n"
        report_md += f"**Predicted Longevity:** {r['longevity_prediction']}\n\n"
        report_md += f"**Example:** {item['url']}\n\n"
        report_md += "---\n\n"
    
    return report_md

# Save report
from datetime import datetime

trending_urls = [
    'https://www.tiktok.com/@viral1/video/111',
    'https://www.tiktok.com/@viral2/video/222',
    'https://www.tiktok.com/@viral3/video/333'
]

report = generate_daily_trend_report(trending_urls, 'your-key')

# Save to file
filename = f"tiktok_trends_{datetime.now().strftime('%Y%m%d')}.md"
with open(filename, 'w') as f:
    f.write(report)

Custom Prompt Examples

const socialMediaPrompt = `
Analyze for social media management:
{
  "content_type": "category of content",
  "key_message": "main point in one sentence",
  "engagement_hooks": ["techniques that grab attention"],
  "hashtags_used": ["primary hashtags"],
  "ideal_posting_time": "morning/afternoon/evening",
  "cross_platform_potential": ["which platforms suit this"],
  "recommended_caption": "caption for reposting"
}
`;

For Brand Monitoring

brand_monitoring_prompt = """
Analyze brand mention or competitor content:
{
  "brand_mentioned": "which brand if any",
  "sentiment": "positive/neutral/negative",
  "product_featured": "specific product if shown",
  "review_type": "authentic/sponsored/comparison",
  "audience_response": "how people are reacting",
  "action_needed": "should brand respond? how?"
}
"""

For Content Ideas

const ideaGenerationPrompt = `
Extract content ideas:
{
  "core_concept": "the main idea",
  "hook_structure": "how it opens",
  "story_arc": "beginning/middle/end flow",
  "adaptable_to": ["other niches this could work in"],
  "key_ingredients": ["what makes it work"],
  "difficulty_to_recreate": "easy/medium/hard"
}
`;

Batch Processing Strategies

Process Videos in Parallel

async function processManyTikToksInParallel(videoUrls, accessKey, concurrency = 5) {
  const results = [];
  
  for (let i = 0; i < videoUrls.length; i += concurrency) {
    const batch = videoUrls.slice(i, i + concurrency);
    
    console.log(`Processing batch ${Math.floor(i / concurrency) + 1}/${Math.ceil(videoUrls.length / concurrency)}`);
    
    const batchResults = await Promise.allSettled(
      batch.map(url => summarizeTikTokVideo(url, accessKey))
    );
    
    batchResults.forEach((result, idx) => {
      if (result.status === 'fulfilled') {
        results.push({
          url: batch[idx],
          success: true,
          data: result.value.data
        });
      } else {
        console.error(`Failed: ${batch[idx]}`);
        results.push({
          url: batch[idx],
          success: false,
          error: result.reason
        });
      }
    });
    
    // Rate limiting pause
    if (i + concurrency < videoUrls.length) {
      await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 1000));
    }
  }
  
  const successful = results.filter(r => r.success).length;
  console.log(`\nProcessed: ${successful}/${videoUrls.length} videos successfully`);
  
  return results;
}

With Progress Tracking

from tqdm import tqdm
import time

def batch_summarize_with_progress(video_urls, access_key, custom_prompt=None):
    """Batch summarize with progress bar"""
    
    results = []
    failed = []
    
    for video_url in tqdm(video_urls, desc="Summarizing TikToks"):
        try:
            data = summarize_tiktok_video(video_url, access_key, custom_prompt)
            results.append({
                'url': video_url,
                'summary': data['data']['summary']
            })
            
            # Rate limiting
            time.sleep(0.5)
            
        except Exception as e:
            failed.append({'url': video_url, 'error': str(e)})
            continue
    
    return {
        'successful': results,
        'failed': failed,
        'success_rate': f"{len(results)}/{len(video_urls)} ({len(results)/len(video_urls)*100:.1f}%)"
    }

Response Data Explained

Default Response Fields

{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@user/video/123",
    "summary": "AI-generated summary",
    "mainTopics": ["Topic 1", "Topic 2"],
    "keyPoints": ["Point 1", "Point 2"],
    "tone": "Overall tone of the video",
    "targetAudience": "Who the video is for",
    "quotes": ["Notable quote 1", "Notable quote 2"],
    "timeline": "How the video progresses"
  }
}

With Custom Response Fields

Use custom_response parameter to define your own fields:

const customResponse = {
  title: "Video title",
  sentiment: "Overall sentiment",
  isEducational: "Whether it's educational",
  category: "Video category",
  viralPotential: "Viral potential rating"
};

const params = {
  access_key: accessKey,
  url: videoUrl,
  custom_response: JSON.stringify(customResponse)
};

Error Handling

Implement robust error handling:

async function summarizeWithRetry(videoUrl, accessKey, maxRetries = 3) {
  for (let i = 0; i < maxRetries; i++) {
    try {
      const response = await axios.get('https://api.socialkit.dev/tiktok/summarize', {
        params: { access_key: accessKey, url: videoUrl },
        timeout: 60000 // 60 second timeout
      });
      
      if (response.data.success) {
        return response.data;
      }
      
      throw new Error('API returned unsuccessful response');
    } catch (error) {
      console.error(`Attempt ${i + 1} failed:`, error.message);
      
      // Don't retry on 404
      if (error.response?.status === 404) {
        throw new Error('Video not found or deleted');
      }
      
      if (i === maxRetries - 1) {
        throw error;
      }
      
      // Exponential backoff
      await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, Math.pow(2, i) * 2000));
    }
  }
}

Pricing

The TikTok Summary API is included in all SocialKit plans:

Free: 20 credits (20 video summaries)
Basic: $13/month (2,000 credits)
Pro: $27/month (10,000 credits)
Ultimate: $79/month (50,000 credits)

Each API request costs 1 credit. View full pricing →

Complete TikTok Data Toolkit

Beyond summaries, you might need other TikTok data:

TikTok APIs:

TikTok Summary API - AI-powered video summaries
TikTok Transcript API - Video transcripts
TikTok Comments API - Comment extraction
TikTok Stats API - Video statistics
TikTok Channel Stats API - Creator analytics

Free TikTok Tools:

Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate are the TikTok summaries?

The API uses GPT-4 models which provide highly accurate summaries. Quality depends on video audio quality and content clarity.

Can I analyze trends across multiple videos?

Yes! Use custom prompts to extract specific trend data, then aggregate results across multiple videos to identify patterns.

Does it work with private TikToks?

No, only publicly accessible TikTok videos can be summarized.

Can I extract hashtags and sounds used?

Yes! Use a custom prompt that asks for hashtags, music/sounds, and other metadata you need.

How long does summarization take?

Typically 3-10 seconds per video depending on video length and complexity.

Can I get summaries in different languages?

Yes, you can request summaries in any language through custom prompts.

Get Started

Ready to start summarizing TikTok videos at scale? Sign up for free and get 20 credits to test the API.

For complete API documentation, visit the TikTok Summary API docs.