TikTok is extremely popular with Gen Z. The short-form mobile video platform launched in 2016, and it now has over 800 million active users worldwide, making it the fastest-growing social media app in the world.
According to Statista, 41% of all teenagers in the U.S. used the app as of April 2020. This is a staggering amount, as it shows that practically half of all teens are hooked on the platform. What makes TikTok so popular with Gen Z specifically is its entertaining and creative short-vids, the platform’s user-friendly interface, and its easy accessibility.
Gen Zers use the app to express their creativity, try out various challenges, showcase their talent, and follow the latest trends. They’re now using the platform to leverage their social media presence and gain more exposure.
Consequently, businesses, celebrities, and influencers alike have begun to harness TikTok as an additional platform to reach their target audience. Data from Sensor Tower and Hootsuite shows that the app saw a massive surge in downloads during the month of April 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, possibly due to the amount of free time and boredom that people experienced.
All of these factors have resulted in Gen Z becoming the platform’s largest demographic.
What percent of Gen Z is on TikTok?
It is difficult to pinpoint exactly what percent of Gen Z is on TikTok due to the platform’s privacy policies, but it is estimated that more than 41% of those aged 16-24 use TikTok worldwide. Additionally, in the US, Pew Research Center found that 81% of teens aged 13-17 use the platform.
This data suggests that the majority of Gen Z people have a TikTok account and use the app to interact with their peers and discover creative content. Furthermore, as of June 2020, TikTok had reportedly surpassed 2 Billion downloads worldwide, which further underscores TikTok’s prevalence among Gen Z users.
Why is TikTok so popular with Gen Z?
TikTok is an incredibly popular app among members of Generation Z, largely due to its innovative and interactive nature. The app allows users to create and share short, creative videos with a wide audience, while also providing a platform to connect with people of similar interests.
Additionally, its unique and eye-catching design, along with its focus on young people and their interests, helps to make it stand out compared to most other social media sites. It stands out among other popular apps by emphasizing the idea of “creating a moment,” which encourages users to make fun, creative videos featuring popular songs, dances, and other content that can be shared and enjoyed.
The user-friendly interface, fresh content, and interactive nature of TikTok make it easy for younger audiences to digest and quickly understand how to create and share their own content. Plus, with access to millions of users around the world, there are plenty of opportunities for users to gain a large following, which is particularly appealing to ambitious and creative young people.
Additionally, the fact that users don’t feel pressured to be perfect and can explore their more experimental ideas, allows Gen Z users to feel much more comfortable creating engaging videos compared to other social media platforms.
In short, TikTok appeals to Generation Z because of its innovative, user-friendly interface and focus on creative, shareable content. It allows this demographic to express themselves creatively and be part of an engaging, interactive community that eagerly shares their content with a large audience.
Does Gen Z use TikTok or Instagram more?
The answer to this question is hard to determine, as it ultimately depends on individual preferences. Generally speaking, it appears that Gen Z does use both TikTok and Instagram, but for different reasons and in different ways.
TikTok is often used by Gen Z to create and share short videos, often with music, whereas Instagram is more often used to share images and passive content. That said, many Gen Z individuals do use both platforms, often at once, to create a full online presence.
Ultimately, it comes down to the individual preferences of Gen Zers, as some may use one platform over the other or find equal value in both.
What app does Gen Z use the most?
Gen Z (defined as those born between 1997-2012) is estimated to have a population of over 71 million in the United States. As a generation, Gen Z’s digital natives, spending an average of 10 hours and 45 minutes a day on their digital devices.
The top apps used by Gen Z are:
1. Instagram: Widely considered the most popular social networking service among Gen Z, Instagram offers users an easy way to consume and create visual content. The platform encourages followers to interact with their favorite posts and brands, making it a great way to connect with this audience.
2. Snapchat: Snapchat is one of the most popular apps among Gen Z. This app allows users to communicate with friends through private messages, share temporary photos, and follow influencers.
3. TikTok: This app has exploded in popularity among Gen Z in recent years. On TikTok, users can upload short videos and share them with their followers. It’s a great way to explore new topics and find creative minds in many niche areas.
4. YouTube: As a video streaming platform, YouTube has been popular among Gen Z for many years. It’s estimated that 90% of this demographics use YouTube on a regular basis, making it a great platform to engage with the Gen Z audience.
5. Netflix: With the recent boom in streaming services, Netflix has become a popular choice among Gen Z. This app offers a vast selection of movies and TV shows, as well as original content, making it a great option for entertainment.
What percentage of TikTok users are Gen Z and Millennials?
According to a 2020 report from eMarketer, approximately 57% of TikTok users worldwide are Gen Z, while Millennials make up roughly 39%. Asia-Pacific countries have the highest share of Gen Z users compared to the rest of the world at around 66%, followed closely by North America with 65%.
In the U.S., Gen Z accounts for the majority of TikTok users, making up 53% of the platform’s total user base. Millennials make up 33% of the U.S. user base. In Europe, Millennials make up the majority of TikTok users (52%), with Gen Z accounting for 44%.
Is TikTok and Instagram the new search engine 40% of Gen Z use social media instead of Google?
No, TikTok and Instagram are not replacing Google as the new search engine of choice for 40% of Gen Z. While it is true that Gen Z does increasingly rely on social media for a variety of activities, including for searching for information, social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram lack many of the features and functions of a search engine that make it easier to find specific information or content.
Google, on the other hand, offers specialized tools such as advanced search capabilities and filters that enable users to pinpoint exactly what they need quickly and easily. Furthermore, as search engines continue to develop, they offer more accurate and comprehensive results than those available on social media platforms.
As such, Gen Z will continue to rely on Google as the primary source for their online information-seeking needs.
How many Gen Z follow influencers?
It is difficult to accurately determine how many Gen Z followers follow influencers, as there are so many influencers with varying levels of engagement and different numbers of followers. Moreover, Gen Z is constantly evolving, and their preferences for who to follow and what types of content to consume is always shifting.
That said, it is estimated that about 40% of Gen Z follow influencers on social media. According to a Pew Research Center report, 70% of Gen Z has a social media profile, and the majority of those, 68%, report that they follow influencers and celebrities.
In addition, according to an IDC survey of Gen Z, nearly 70% say they are more likely to trust and consider buying a product if it is recommended by an influencer they follow. These numbers indicate that Gen Z is very engaged with influencers and view them as sources of inspiration and information on products to purchase.
On Instagram alone, an estimated 70.7 million people in the U.S. aged 13-22 follow influencers, showing just how large the followership of Gen Z for influencers is.
Overall, it is difficult to accurately determine how many Gen Z followers follow influencers, but research and surveys indicate that it is a significant number – around 40% – and growing.