TikTok Is Set To Be Banned on Jan. 19

By: M. Scott Morris
Published: January 14th, 2025

Depending on legal action, TikTok is set to be banned on Jan. 19 under the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. New users will not be able to download the app and current users will not be able to update the app.

Numerator surveyed more than 1,300 TikTok users when the ban was initially announced. The article, "Tick tock goes the clock: Insights on how a TikTok ban would affect Americans," provides insights into TikTok users, their sentiment around the situation, overall social media habits, and potential apps that could fill the TikTok void. Findings include:

• 31% of U.S. adult consumers currently use TikTok, making it the fifth-most-popular social media app behind Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.
• TikTok falls in popularity through the generations: 76% of Gen Z uses it, 40% of Millennials, 36% of Gen X, and 18% of Boomers.
• Compared to all consumers, TikTok users are 51% more likely to say that social media is the most influential ad touchpoint, and they are nearly twice as likely to follow celebrities and internet personalities/influencers on social media.
• 41% of TikTok users say they use mobile devices for more than six hours per day, compared to 31% of all consumers.
• TikTok is used for comedy and entertainment (69%), recipes and cooking (53%), life hacks (46%), beauty and fashion (36%), and home improvement/DIY (34%).
• Among TikTok users, 52% are very/extremely familiar with the potential ban (vs. 40% of all consumers), 41% would be somewhat or very upset should the app be banned (vs. 17%), and 44% believe big tech and social media companies need more oversight (vs. 57%).
• 57% of Gen Z TikTok users said they would be upset should the app be banned.
• Concerning data privacy, 37% of TikTok users distrust the app, and 38% are neutral. Distrust is highest for X (formerly Twitter) with 45% of X users saying they distrust the app.
• Should TikTok be banned, consumers plan to shift to Facebook (47%), Instagram (44%), and Youtube (40%).
• TikTok Shop shoppers are more likely to be low-income, LGBTQ+, Gen Zers, and spend an average of $28 on TikTok Shop three times a year. They are 4x more likely to shop at Temu, 3x more likely to use DoorDash, 2.5x more likely to use UberEats, and 2x more likely to shop online at Ulta, Kohl’s, and Target than other consumers.

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