TikTok has exploded in popularity over the past few years, quickly becoming one of the most used social media platforms in the world with billions of users. TikTok allows users to create and share 15-60 second long videos featuring music, comedy, dance, and more. According to a 2022 report by EarthWeb, TikTok had reached over 1.05 billion monthly active users worldwide, ranking only behind giants like Facebook and YouTube in total users [1]. TikTok is especially popular among younger audiences, with around 41% of its users between the ages of 16 and 24. The app’s short-form video style appeals to younger generations who prefer more bite-sized, entertaining content. TikTok has also successfully leveraged influencer marketing, using popular creators to help videos go viral. With its massive growth and ability to retain users, TikTok is shaping social media and entertainment around the globe.
What is TikTok?
TikTok is a video sharing social media app owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. It was launched in September 2016 in China under the name Douyin (抖音). TikTok allows users to create short videos set to music, edit them with filters and effects, and share them with followers. Videos can be between 3 to 60 seconds long.
TikTok quickly became popular among teenagers and young adults, growing to over 500 million monthly active users globally as of 2018. It has been downloaded over 1 billion times on the iOS App Store and Google Play. The app allows users to browse popular video content, follow other creators, interact with videos, and gain a “For You” page tailored to personal interests.
TikTok utilizes an algorithm that determines which videos a user is most likely to enjoy watching, leading to a highly addictive and personalized experience. While headquartered in Beijing, TikTok has offices around the world given its global popularity.
TikTok in China
TikTok is actually known by a different name in its home country of China. The app goes by the name Douyin (抖音) within China. Douyin and TikTok are essentially the same app, using the same logo and interface. The main difference is simply the name. Douyin was first launched in China in September 2016 by ByteDance, while the international version called TikTok was launched later in 2017.
Despite its different name, Douyin is still seamlessly connected to the global version of TikTok. Users can share content between the Chinese Douyin app and international TikTok without issues. However, the apps do have some differences in features and functionality tailored to their local markets.
Why different names?
Douyin and TikTok are essentially two versions of the same app – Douyin for the Chinese market and TikTok for the global market. They are owned by the same parent company, ByteDance, but have some differences to cater to their respective markets.
Douyin was created first and launched in China in September 2016. It quickly gained popularity as a platform for people to create and share short videos with special effects and music. In 2017, Bytedance launched TikTok for markets outside of China. TikTok uses the same core technology as Douyin but has some differences in features and design.
The main reason for the two different apps is that Bytedance wanted to separate the Chinese and global markets. Douyin complies with China’s censorship laws and restrictions, while TikTok does not have the same level of censorship. Maintaining two apps also allows for localization and tailoring features to each market. (https://chinasocialmedia.net/tiktok-and-douyin-are-not-the-same/)
Douyin Features
Douyin has several unique features tailored for Chinese users. According to HeyHey, Douyin allows users to upload and share 15 second videos with special effects and stickers. Some key features include:
- Beautification filters – Douyin offers advanced filters to enhance selfies and videos.
- Duet videos – Users can duet with or react to other videos on the platform.
- Live streaming – Douyin supports live streaming so users can broadcast in real-time.
- Music library – Douyin provides licensed music and original tracks for use in videos.
- Special effects – Animated stickers, overlays, and augmented reality effects are available.
Douyin is designed for short viral videos and easy video creation through its array of editing tools and features. The app is extremely popular for lifestyle, dance, comedy, and talent videos. Douyin caters to Chinese preferences through locally relevant content, effects, stickers, and aesthetics.
TikTok vs Douyin
While TikTok and Douyin share the same parent company, ByteDance, there are some key differences between the two apps:
TikTok is the international version of Douyin designed for markets outside of mainland China. Douyin is only available in China. This allows each app to be tailored to its target markets and comply with local laws and censorship requirements (Source).
The user interfaces have some variations, with TikTok having a more minimalist design. TikTok also has access to the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, while Douyin does not (Source).
The content and trends also differ, as each app’s algorithm recommends localized, culturally relevant content. Douyin focuses more on skills, life hacks and lifestyle tips. TikTok trends more towards entertainment with musicians, dancers and performers (Source).
Douyin Usage
Douyin has seen rapid growth in China, becoming one of the most popular social media apps in the country. According to Insider Intelligence, Douyin had 600 million monthly active users in China as of 2021, making it the second largest social network after WeChat [1]. This represents over 40% of China’s total internet users.
The number of Douyin users has grown at an impressive rate, more than doubling from 250 million in 2019 to 600 million in just two years [2]. In 2020 alone, Douyin added 106 million new users. Analysts predict Douyin’s growth will continue in the coming years, with users reaching 653 million in 2022 and 712 million by 2025 [1].
Douyin’s rapid adoption has been driven by its short video format that appeals to young users. On average, Douyin users in China spend 100 minutes per day on the app, indicating incredibly high engagement [3]. The app has become deeply ingrained in popular culture and daily life in China.
Regulation
The Chinese government heavily regulates and censors content on Douyin. All social media platforms in China are required to monitor and remove content deemed politically sensitive or inappropriate. According to Technology Review, Douyin uses both algorithms and human moderators to review content and block anything relating to politics, adult material, or other prohibited topics.
Douyin also limits daily usage for teens in China. Since 2019, users under 14 can only access the app for 40 minutes per day between 6am and 10pm. The Chinese government imposed these restrictions to protect minors from overuse and inappropriate content.
In addition, Douyin requires real-name registration using Chinese ID numbers. This allows the government to identify and track users. The Chinese government can request data on users at any time for monitoring purposes. Overall, Douyin operates under much stricter supervision than TikTok due to China’s restrictive internet policies.
Global Expansion
TikTok has seen incredible growth outside of China in recent years. According to Backlinko, out of 4.95 billion active social media users worldwide, 24.65% now use TikTok. The app has been downloaded over 3.3 billion times on the Google Play Store and App Store, showing its tremendous reach.
Much of TikTok’s global growth has been concentrated in India, the United States, and parts of Europe and Southeast Asia. As of 2022, India had the most TikTok downloads at 611 million, followed by the US at 328 million. The company has heavily invested in these markets, localizing content and features to gain traction.
TikTok’s growth outside of China has been so rapid that the US and other countries have raised data privacy and security concerns. However, the app remains immensely popular, especially among younger demographics. As it expands its operations globally, TikTok is likely to continue seeing its userbase balloon in size.
Conclusion
Douyin, known as TikTok outside of China, is a hugely popular short video app developed by ByteDance. While the app goes by different names in China vs abroad, the core experience is quite similar – users can create and share 15 second to 3 minute videos with fun effects, edit tools, and more.
Douyin has seen massive growth in China, amassing over 300 million daily active users. Its core features like video creation/sharing, live streaming, and AI recommendations cater perfectly to younger Chinese demographics. However, Chinese regulators have cracked down at times when content becomes too vulgar or political.
As TikTok, the app has also expanded successfully worldwide. But its growth outside China has led to tensions, like claims of censorship or security concerns from governments like the US and India. While regulatory hurdles remain, TikTok’s future looks bright as ByteDance continues refining its machine learning and AI capabilities. With innovative features and sophisticated algorithms, TikTok is well-positioned to further dominate global short video sharing in the years to come.
