Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
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Teens largely turn to TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat for fun and connection. But experiences around messaging, screen time and cyberbullying vary. And what teens say about how these sites impact their mental health.
In the wake of TikTok’s deal to make its U.S. operations backed largely by non-Chinese investors, here’s what we know about Americans and TikTok.
YouTube remains the most popular, but adults are increasingly using Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp and Reddit. Use of some platforms varies by age, gender, and race and ethnicity.
About four-in-ten parents say they could be doing better at managing their kid’s screen time. A larger share – 58% – say they’re doing the best they can.
Among adults under 30, 43% say they regularly get news from TikTok, up from 9% in 2020.
The share of Americans who perceive TikTok as a national security threat has also dipped – from 59% in 2023 to 49% now.
On TikTok, Americans often follow people who have a strong social media presence. These creator accounts make up about half of all accounts that U.S. users follow.
Many TikTok accounts mix in news with a variety of other topics, from celebrity gossip to jokes and memes.
A majority of U.S. adult TikTok users (62%) say a reason they use the site is to look at product reviews or recommendations.
American TikTok users follow far more pop culture and entertainment accounts than news and politics ones.
