Americans Are Spending 6% of Their Waking Hours on This Addictive App

By Aaron Webber Updated Aug 14, 12:26PM EDT · Published Aug 14, 10:30AM EDT

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Americans Are Spending 6% of Their Waking Hours on This Addictive App — © Fertnig / Getty Images

TikTok (Douyin in China) was created in China in 2016. Since then, it has swept through the internet like wildfire and just continues to draw in users who were once loyal to other platforms. What started out as exclusively short-form video sharing has grown into a video platform with content that any user will enjoy.

#1 Most Popular App

A photo of the TikTok app.

TikTok is becoming the most popular social media platform in the world. Out of its 1.5 billion monthly active users, almost 30% of the users are aged 18–24. The runner-up demographic at 23.1% are users aged 25–34.

#2 Ban Attempts

A photo of TikTok.

TikTok was the most popular app in 2019 and 2020. Several governments have banned or are trying to ban it, like the U.S. It’s currently banned in India and Pakistan due to its “morality issues”. Most users are located in the Asia Pacific region (682 million), with 192 million in North America.

#3 Demographics

Photo of TikTok.

The highest percentage of users are male at 52%. TikTok has 1.6 billion users. In comparison, Facebook has 3 billion users (real and fake).

#4 Company Growth

A TikTok event.

TikTok’s annual revenue was $16.1 billion in 2023. It sticks out from other social media platforms with its use of music. Several musicians have been discovered on TikTok like Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow, Doja Cat, Tai Verdes, and Gayle.

#5 Music Industry

Photo of a concert.

TikTok has turned the music industry upside-down and made music something that fans can participate in. TikTok can revitalize musicians and give them new, younger fans. Recent examples include “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now”,“Fast Car”, and “Running Up That Hill”.

#6 Industry Tactics

Photo of a musician.

The music industry is trying to harness this power by paying influencers to create TikToks, starting a dance challenge, and posting segments of music videos. Most tactics don’t really work and don’t result in a monetary return.

#7 Indie Artists

2013 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival Day 2

Photo of a musician.

Also, indie artists no longer have to “make it big,” to find their fans. Oftentimes, an artist can make money by playing for a curated audience. Musicians can grow and thrive and build a platform without the help of record labels. They can own their own work and keep the profits.

#8 TikTok Trends

Business man, headache and stress on laptop for financial mistake, accounting error or results and pain. Professional person with glasses, tired and fatigue on computer for research and job report

A man at a job.

TikTok trends have incredible power. One example is the “Quiet Quitting,” trend. Quiet Quitting refers to employees only doing the work they are paid to do, asserting hard boundaries, having a better work-life balance, and advocating for themselves. This has led to an attitude shift around corporate workplaces that are exploiting you.

#9 Eyes on Events

A photo from Gaza.

Another impactful phenomenon caused by TikTok is putting cameras on the world’s atrocities that were largely hidden from the global public square. The genocide happening in Gaza largely being recorded by Gazans who are trapped in the Gaza Strip and continue to show the war crimes that are being perpetrated against them. It has helped people realize that what they see in mainstream media is not always the truth.

#10 TikTok News

Male spy holding newspaper with holes on brown background

Person with a newspaper.

One-third of U.S. adults are TikTok users and a little less than one-half of U.S. users have ever posted a TikTok. And four in ten U.S. users say that their main news consumption comes from TikTok. And 58% of American users are women.

#11 Political Skew

The political divide.

In America, 41% of U.S. Republicans believe that TikTok is a national security threat, and six in ten news consumers on TikTok are Democrats, and only 14% of All Democrats believe TikTok is a national security threat.

#12 An Educational Tool

Glowing lightbulb over a book, Inspiring from read concept, Education knowledge and business education ideas, Innovations, self-learning, knowledge and searching for new ideas. Thinking for new idea.

An image of learning.

TikTok has been a really effective platform for science, medical, and public health communication. Doctors, scientists, doctors, therapists, and more use TikTok to share valuable information with the public. Besides the valuable information that they share, science communicators make critical income from the platform, that their industry jobs don’t provide.

About the Author Aaron Webber →

Aaron Webber is a veteran of the marketing, advertising, and publishing worlds. With over 15 years as a professional writer and editor, he has led branding and marketing initiatives for hundreds of companies ranging from local Chicago restaurants to international microchip manufacturers and banks. Aaron has launched new brands, managed corporate rebranding campaigns, and managed teams of writers in the education and branding agency industries. His experience extends to radio spots, mailers, websites, keynote presentations, TED talks, financial prospecti, launch decks, social media, and much more.

He is now a full-time freelance writer, editor, and branding consultant. Most of his work is spent ghost-writing for corporate executives, long-form articles, and advising smaller agencies on client projects.

Aaron’s work has been featured on INC.com and The Huffington Post. He has written for Fortune 100 companies and world-class brands. His extensive experience in C-suite ghostwriting has launched the personal branding initiatives of dozens of executives. He is a published fiction writer with publishing credits in science fiction, horror, and historical fiction.

Aaron graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s degree in macroeconomics, and is the owner and primary contributor of The Lost Explorers Club on www.lostexplorersclub.com. He spends his free time teaching breathwork and hosting healing ceremonies in his home.