Almost HALF of Brits are now on TikTok: Video app celebrates hitting 30 million UK users
It's the go-to platform for millions of people around the world, providing an endless stream of short yet addictive video clips.
And in Britain, more people are glued to TikTok than ever before.
In an official update, the Chinese-owned app revealed over 30 million people across the UK now use TikTok each month.
With around 68 million people in the UK, it means the social app's reach extends to nearly half the population, nearly seven years after it launched here.
The UK is TikTok's largest userbase in Europe, according to the social media app, which is owned by Chinese internet company ByteDance.
And despite the looming ban in the US, TikTok has brought global fame to a whole raft of 'influencers' who earn a living through the platform.
Adam Presser, director of TikTok UK and global head of operations and trust and safety, said the app has been the foundation for thriving small businesses, breakthrough music stars, 'viral historians' and more.
'I want to thank the more than 30 million people that make TikTok the vibrant and unique community it is today in the UK,' he said.
The new official figure is based on the average number of monthly active users in the UK accessing TikTok between January and March this year.
And at 30 million, TikTok's massive UK following represents about 2 per cent of the platform's global userbase.
TikTok has an estimated 1.6 billion users worldwide, according to DemandSage – making it the fifth most popular social media platform globally.
Facebook is the top social media platform worldwide with 3 billion users, followed by YouTube with 2.5 billion, WhatsApp (2 billion) and Instagram (2 billion).
Despite trailing behind its rivals, TikTok has still achieved good growth in such as short time, having launched in the UK not even seven years ago.
Social media consultant Rhea Freeman called 30 million 'a decent milestone' for TikTok UK, comparable to Facebook.
Mark Zuckerberg's social network reached 30 million UK users in early 2011 – six years after it launched here in early 2005 – but Freeman thinks Facebook was something of a pioneer.
'Facebook had to break new ground as people didn't really get social media when it launched; with TikTok, it was already a known concept,' she told MailOnline.
TikTok has an estimated 1.6 billion users worldwide, according to DemandSage - making it the fifth most popular social media platform globally
Globally, most of TikTok's global users (135.79 million) are in the US, despite the proposed nationwide ban under President Donald Trump.
Trump has long had concerns over the app's links to the Chinese government, which he believes could compromise the safety and privacy of US citizens.
TikTok is known in China as Douyin where it was launched in September 2016, before being made more widely available around the world in 2017 and the UK in August 2018.
It was originally positioned as an app for sharing choreographed dances to songs – adding to its popularity among children.
But it now features a huge range of different content, from fashion and heath advice to book reviews, recipes, tutorials and challenges, along with 'influencers' who are paid to flog certain products.
In 2024 the platform increasingly became a place for science communicators to share backyard chemistry lessons, tips for fossil collecting and more.
However, TikTok – which allows children as young as 13 to create an account – has been surrounded with controversies in its short history.
Children's charity Barnado's has warned of 'sophisticated groomers' who contact children using the TikTok's live comment functions and engage them in sexual behaviour. It also acts as a platform for dangerous trends to proliferate, such as the 'blackout challenge', linked to the deaths of at least 20 children.
But Presser said the platform invests 'significantly in safety' globally and will invest at least another $2 billion (£1.4 billion) in the year ahead to help keep TikTok safe.
According to Statista, 50 per cent of children in the UK use TikTok, making it the most popular social media app for youngsters.
TikTok also revealed it would be expanding its 'already significant presence in the UK with a new London office and additional jobs.
The new 135,000 sq ft office in Barbican, London, is set to open early next year – bringing its UK workforce to around 3,000.
'Whether through direct investment in jobs and innovation, or the wider economic contribution from millions of British businesses on TikTok, we're pleased to be increasing our investment and presence here in the UK, an important hub for TikTok,' Presser added.
'What underpins our continued growth is our deep commitment to safety and to creating an enjoyable and secure digital space to sustainably support creators, entrepreneurs and the wider economy.'
TikTok: The Chinese-owned social media app that took the Western world by storm
TikTok is a Chinese social media app where users can live stream, create short videos and music videos and Gifs with a host of functions.
TikTok's tagline is 'Make every second count'.
It was the most downloaded app in the US in 2018 and the world's fourth most downloaded app in 2018, ahead of Instagram and Snapchat.
TikTok is known in China as Douyin where it was launched in 2016 and then made more widely available around the world in 2017.
Douyin is still the version of the app used in China, available to download separately to TikTok.
The app was merged with popular music video lip-syncing app Musical.ly, also with headquarters in China.
Most children use the app to film themselves lip-syncing to chart hits.
It offers users a raft if colourful modification and editing tools including overlaying music, sound, animated stickers, filters and augmented reality (AR) for creating short videos.
The Beijing based social network has more than 1 billion active users and the company is now worth more than $100 billion (£730 million).
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