Do you use TikTok? If you don’t, you probably will — eventually. It’s only a matter of time before you succumb to the wildly popular social media app. Try and resist it all you want. Once you try TikTok, you’ll find yourself scrolling through random videos to pass the time more and more frequently throughout the day.
How do we know? Well, we’ve been there. But also, we’ve conducted a little experiment of our own to find out how different generations view TikTok and how they interact with it. And, eventually, how long it would take for TikTok to become a part of their daily routine.
But, first things first. Let’s talk about TikTok’s role in today’s world in general.
Table Of Contents
What Is TikTok?
It’s an app to share user-generated videos — everything from pranks to jokes to social commentary on current events. If you’re old enough to remember Vine, it’s kind of like that, without the 6-second limitation. And it’s far more engaging than Vine was.
TikTok is the world’s most downloaded app. To put it into context, here are some numbers:
- TikTok was downloaded over 656 million times in 2021
- Since its launch, the app has been downloaded over 3 billion times
- It’s the 6th most-used social media platform (Facebook holds the top spot, followed by YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, and WeChat).
- Even though Instagram is used more, TikTok is more popular among Generation Z users
It’s the World’s Most Engaging App
TikTok has an average user session of 10.85 minutes. That might not seem like a lot of minutes, but that doesn’t mean people are using TikTok for around 11 minutes a day. It means that when people jump onto TikTok, they use it for about 11 minutes before switching to a different app.
The next most-popular app in this regard? Pinterest at just over 5 minutes. Instagram was way down there at 2.95 minutes. The overall daily engagement rate is up there too, with an average of 38 minutes per day spent on TikTok. Twitter and Facebook are next on the list, at 35 minutes and 31 minutes respectively.
TikTok Demographics by Age
According to the latest data, TikTok’s user base skews young, with Gen Z leading the charge. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the platform’s age distribution:
| Age Group | Percentage of Users |
|---|---|
| 13-17 years | 25% |
| 18-24 years | 38% |
| 25-34 years | 22% |
| 35-44 years | 10% |
| 45+ years | 5% |
1. Gen Z (Ages 13-24) – The Core Audience
🔹 Dominates TikTok with 63% of users
🔹 Loves trends, challenges, and viral content
🔹 Prefers short-form, highly engaging videos
🔹 Follows influencers and creates user-generated content
Gen Z users are the backbone of TikTok, spending hours daily scrolling through the For You Page (FYP), engaging with content, and participating in challenges. This group is highly interactive, making TikTok their go-to platform for entertainment and social connection.
2. Millennials (Ages 25-34) – Growing Engagement
🔹 Represents 22% of TikTok’s audience
🔹 Uses TikTok for lifestyle, finance, career tips, and parenting content
🔹 Engages with brands and businesses more than younger users
🔹 Prefers TikTok as a source of information and entertainment
While Millennials were slower to adopt TikTok, many are now active users, drawn to educational and inspirational content rather than just trends and memes.
3. Gen X & Boomers (Ages 35+) – Late Adopters
🔹 TikTok is growing in popularity among older users
🔹 Enjoys content related to nostalgia, family, and DIY projects
🔹 Less likely to create content but actively watches and engages
🔹 Uses TikTok for learning and entertainment
Though only 15% of TikTok’s user base is over 35, this demographic is steadily growing, especially with the rise of parent influencers, financial experts, and health professionals on the platform.
Key Age Observations
Those in their thirties and forties found that their use of TikTok increased as the week progressed, suggesting that the app’s algorithms are working to cater to older users and make sure they continue to enjoy TikTok. Teenagers and users in their twenties appeared to be less engaged as the week progressed.
Everyone Wants to Be TikTok — Including Mark Zuckerberg
When you can’t beat ‘em, buy ‘em. And when you can’t buy ‘em, copy ‘em. That seems to be the approach Meta has taken. The company formerly known as Facebook has turned its Instagram product into a TikTok-like experience, mimicking TikTok’s scrolling behavior.
The similarities are so strong that you could open TikTok on someone’s phone, blindfold them, switch to Instagram, remove the blindfold, and they’ll have no idea that you’ve switched apps.
Meta knows that Facebook is becoming a relic of the past. Younger users are flocking to TikTok, and Instagram needs to evolve if they want to maintain its user base.
So, what does this all mean? With more and more apps clamoring for users’ attention—and with more and more apps mimicking what TikTok does—people are finding themselves exposed to more and more content.
That includes controversial stuff that kids shouldn’t be looking at. That’s why it’s important to consider using a monitoring app. It can help you ensure that your kids are looking at content that you approve of. And if they aren’t, you can find out.
Problems & Dangers of TikTok
Did you know you can watch TikTok without an account? It’s true. Just download the app and start scrolling. You’ll see all kinds of content, and the app will begin to learn what you’re into, even if you don’t have an account. While you can’t comment, you can easily share content by copying a link. And others can share content with you.
Because TikTok doesn’t require an account, there’s no age verification process, making the app even more problematic. As with many other social media apps, it didn’t take a lot of time for adult content to make its way to TikTok as well. Yea, TikTok porn is a thing.
That’s why more and more parents are considering TikTok monitoring apps like Eyezy, which lets you see what they’ve been up to on their phones. Once installed on their phone, you can see if they’re using the app. And you can see if they’ve been sharing videos on other social media platforms.
For example, if they copy a TikTok link and share it on Snapchat, WhatsApp, or Facebook Messenger, you’ll know. That’s because Eyezy lets you read social media conversations. You can also use the built-in app blocker to completely restrict access to TikTok on their device if push comes to shove.
Conclusion: What Age Uses TikTok the Most?
Without a doubt, Gen Z (ages 13-24) dominates TikTok, making up over 60% of the platform’s users. However, Millennials and older generations are catching up, especially as TikTok expands beyond entertainment into education, business, and lifestyle content.
For marketers, understanding TikTok demographics is crucial. If your target audience is Gen Z, short, high-energy, and trend-based content works best. For Millennials and older users, informative and engaging content around real-life topics is more effective.
Want to leverage TikTok for your brand or personal growth? Now is the perfect time to join the platform! 🚀
