Writer: TOLULOPE OLANIYI
The popular social media app, TikTok, with over 1 billion users globally, is encountering a series of bans and restrictions in various countries.
While the platform boasts a diverse user base, with 35 percent aged between 20-29, its ownership by Beijing-based tech company ByteDance has raised concerns about data privacy and security.
Despite its popularity, TikTok has faced criticism over security, privacy, and content censorship issues. Many countries have taken action due to concerns about data privacy and security, while others have imposed bans based on inappropriate content and the display of pornography.
A growing number of governments have responded by imposing bans on TikTok, both within government devices and across the general public. India was the first to ban TikTok on June 29, 2020, citing national security concerns. The United States followed suit on September 27, 2020, also citing national security. Afghanistan banned TikTok in April 2022 due to content not complying with Islamic laws.
In February 2023, several countries, including Canada, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, France, and the United Kingdom, banned TikTok due to security concerns. In March 2023, Bangladesh and Syria banned it, with Bangladesh citing inappropriate content for children and Syria expressing national security worries.
Further, Indonesia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan also banned TikTok in March 2023, citing content appropriateness and national security. In April 2023, Australia, Estonia, the Netherlands, Norway, and New Zealand joined the list, primarily due to security concerns. Taiwan had banned TikTok in December 2022 over national security, and Pakistan and Latvia followed suit in May 2023, with reasons related to content appropriateness and security
TikTok in Numbers:
In just under four years, TikTok achieved a milestone of over 3 billion downloads and reached approximately one-third of the world’s social media users. To put this into perspective, it took Facebook and Instagram nearly a decade to amass a user base of similar magnitude.
As of August 7, 2023, these numbers continue to grow. According to Wallaroo, a digital advertisement firm, TikTok boasts over 3 billion downloads worldwide in less than four years, reaching one-third of all social media users globally.
- It has more than 1.1 billion users and has been downloaded over 220 million times in the United States alone as of August 7, 2023.
- TikTok has over 1 billion monthly active users, making it one of the top social media platforms.
- Users spend an average of 95 minutes per day on TikTok, with 8 app opens per day.
- TikTok’s U.S. audience includes over 150 million monthly active users, with a substantial percentage belonging to Gen Z.
- The platform is estimated to pull in $500 million in revenue from the U.S. alone in 2020.
- TikTok is available in over 150 countries and 75 languages worldwide.
- It’s known for its high engagement, with users spending 26 hours per month on the platform.
- TikTok has created a $1 billion Creator Fund to strengthen its relationships with influencers.
- Top TikTok creators are earning significant incomes, with some making millions annually.
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