Created by Bytedance, the app now known as TikTok was launched in September 2016 in the Chinese market under the name Douyin. The name roughly translates to “Shaking Sound.” Within just one year the app had over 100 million monthly active users. With this astounding success, Bytedance launched the international version Tik Tok. Shortly after launching Bytedance acquired Musical.ly. By leveraging Musical.ly’s existing user base, the Bytedance was able to create a large community and set the app on a path toward tremendous user growth.
In terms of features, both Tik Tok and Douyin are nearly identical. Both offer a feed of short videos (under 15 seconds) that users can browse through. By creating a profile on the platform you can follow other users, like videos, and of course, post your own. Many compare the app to a combination of Snapchat and the now-defunct Vine.
The most common type of video on the platform is lip syncing videos. Users sing along to songs included in the app. However, there are videos related to, dancing, parkour, challenges, magic tricks, “fails,” and more!
Like a Rocket!
TikTok has been one of the fastest growing apps in terms of users and popularity in recent memory. It is also one of the few apps that has proven popular both in China and abroad. After its launch in September of 2017, the app was downloaded over 663 million times in 2018 alone. This has made it the fourth most downloaded non-game app. It was this news that brought the app to the attention of most people worldwide.
While there was a ton of hype surrounding the app in 2018, it seems to have died down a bit in 2019. Now that we’ve reached the halfway point of 2019, let’s take a look back at the achievements of the app and the challenges it faces ahead.
What Makes TikTok Special?
Short Videos? Filters? Lip-Syncing? I bet you’re wondering, “Haven’t we seen all these features before?”
It’s true most of the features on TikTok aren’t really unique, but the way that they’ve been packaged together and offered to users has been something not seen before. Unlike predecessors in the short video market that simply curated content, TikTok incorporated a lot of features that simply make content creation easier.
The Challenge function implemented on TikTok further incentivizes users to actually go out and create their own video. It also actively encourages its most popular personalities on the platform to participate in these challenges.
All of this entices users to actually participate in the platform rather than just observing it. Based on a user study conducted in March 2018 77.6% of TikTok users stated that their motivation for making videos was wanting to try themselves to replicate funny videos made on the platform.
TikTok Overseas
A key feature of TikTok’s success has been its ability to gain popularity overseas. This is the first Chinese social media platform to truly take off overseas.
In February 2019 it was noted that 46% of its overseas downloads came from India, with the next largest contributor being the United States with 10%.
TikTok has invested heavily in bringing overseas influencers onto the platform. In overseas markets, some influencers maintain follower bases of nearly 10 million which is quite impressive on such a new platform.
Tik Tok’s Performance in 2019
TikTok is available in over 150 countries, has over 1 billion users, and has been downloaded over 123 million times in the United States alone. If your brand’s target audience includes anyone between the age 13 and 30, you should be in TikTok right now. Need inspiration on launching your TikTok strategy? Click here. Without further ado, here are the most important TikTok statistics (we will continuously refresh this article as new data becomes available).
TikTok reported that the number was 680 million monthly active users. We estimate that it’s increased to 800 million as of now.
Total App Downloads – The TikTok app has been downloaded over 1.5 billion times worldwide, as reported by Sensor Tower 0n November 14, 2019. 466 million of those come from India, 173 million from China, and 123 million from the U.S.
Monthly Active Users in the United States – In November 2018 TikTok reported that they had 20 million monthly active users in the United States. With the staggering growth that’s occurred since then, we estimate that the current number of monthly active TikTok users in the U.S. is about 60 million.
Average Minutes Per User – TikTok users love the app. They spend an average of 52 minutes per day in the platform.
Opens – A user opens the TikTok app 8 times per day.
Creation – 83% of TikTok users have posted a video.
U.S. Audience – As we mentioned, we estimate that TikTok has about 60 million monthly active users in the United States. 60% are female, 40% are male. 60% are between the ages of 16-24. 26% are between the ages 25-44. 80% are between the ages 16-34. This data comes straight from TikTok.
Gen Z – 60% of TikTok users are Gen Zers. Gen Zers are trendsetters. Next year, 74 million people in the U.S. will be part of “Gen Z”, which will make it the largest generation of all.
Countries – TikTok is now available in 154 countries worldwide (and 75 different languages).
3 Feb 2020