TikTok has seen explosive growth since launching outside of China in 2017, becoming one of the most popular social media platforms globally. As of 2023, TikTok has over 1 billion monthly active users and over 500 million daily active users worldwide (Frank Barnard, 2023). Understanding when TikTok has peak user activity is valuable for brands and creators looking to maximize engagement. Brands aim to post content when their target audience is most active on the platform. Likewise, creators want to post videos when they can quickly gain traction and views. This article provides an in-depth look at when TikTok sees the most user activity throughout the day and week.
Morning Activity
Many people use TikTok as part of their morning routines. TikTok sees a spike in engagement first thing in the morning as users check the app soon after waking up. There are numerous popular TikTok accounts dedicated to morning routines and aesthetics, such as Mae Layug who has over 4.6 million followers. According to TikTok’s search page, videos related to “morning routine” have received hundreds of millions of views (source). This highlights how early morning is a peak time for TikTok engagement. Users enjoy watching relaxing and motivating morning routine videos to start their day. The app’s hashtag #morningroutine has over 5 billion views, showing the popularity of morning content. Overall, TikTok usage and engagement is high in the mornings as people check the app soon after getting out of bed.
Lunch Breaks
A significant spike in TikTok usage occurs during weekday lunch breaks, typically between noon and 2pm. Bored office workers often log into TikTok during their lunch hour to take a mental break and procrastinate before returning to work. According to a Business Insider article, the “3pm slump” is a popular TikTok trend highlighting the mid-afternoon energy dip and desire for distraction. TikTok provides an entertaining escape and sense of community for users during an otherwise mundane workday. The app’s short, swipeable video format caters perfectly to quick lunch break entertainment. While some may view TikTok usage during work hours as unproductive, brief mental breaks can boost morale, creativity and energy levels. In moderation, a TikTok study session benefits both bored employees and curious viewers.
After School
After the school day ends in the afternoon is a prime time for teens and young people to engage with TikTok.
With free time opening up after classes, many students jump on TikTok right away to catch up on the latest videos from their favorite creators. This makes the afternoon hours on weekdays an extremely active window for viewing content on TikTok.
According to research from Pew Research Center, two thirds of teens report using TikTok regularly. The after school hours are when many teens satisfy their craving for entertainment and connection on the app.
The afternoon is also a popular time for teens to create TikTok videos of their own. With school pressures lifting, students have more time and energy to film creative videos showcasing their talents, humor, and personalities. This fresh content from young users helps drive engagement on TikTok higher during after school hours.
In summary, the afternoon period on school days represents a prime timeslot for teen engagement, viewership, content creation, and overall activity on the TikTok platform.
Evenings
Usage peaks again in the evenings as people wind down after dinner and look for entertainment and relaxation before bed. As a global platform, TikTok sees increased engagement across all time zones in the evenings local time. According to research, the average American spends nearly 4 hours on social media per day, with 75% of that time taking place in the evening hours before bed.
With many people turning to TikTok as a way to relax and be entertained after a long day, evenings tend to see lots of engagement. Teenagers may spend their free evening hours scrolling through TikTok, while adults enjoy TikTok as a way to decompress from the workday. Late evenings often see a bump in dance videos, comedy sketches, satisfying viral trends, and more as people look to TikTok for laughter and fun before going to sleep.
Weekends
Weekends are a popular time for TikTok users, since there is more leisure time for scrolling and engaging with content. There are spikes in engagement on both Saturdays and Sundays compared to weekdays.
Saturdays tend to have a peak in engagement in the late morning to early afternoon. According to Buffer’s 2022 analysis, the best times to post on Saturday are between 8-10am, with engagement scores around 190-200. There is another smaller peak from 2-4pm with engagement scores around 170 [1].
On Sundays, the peak engagement period is a bit later, from around 10am-12pm. Engagement scores during this window reach around 180-190. Sunday afternoons also see elevated engagement compared to weekday afternoons, so posting between 2-4pm can also be effective [1].
Overall, weekends provide great opportunities to reach leisurely scrolling users, especially Saturday and Sunday mornings through early afternoons.
By Country
Peak usage times on TikTok can vary significantly by country and region due to differences in time zones and cultural factors that impact user behavior. According to research, some key differences include:
In the United States, peak times are in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings. The most popular times are around 7-9 AM, 12-5 PM, and 7-11 PM local time. This follows typical waking hours for many American users.
In Europe, engagement tends to spike earlier in the day compared to the US. Peak times in countries like the UK and France are 7-9 AM, 12-2 PM, and 7-10 PM local time. This aligns with work schedules and commute times.
Parts of Asia see massive engagement in the late evening and night hours. In Japan and Indonesia for instance, 10PM to 2AM are prime times to post. Late night usage reflects cultural nightlife and activities in these regions.
Across the Middle East, early mornings tend to perform best. The top times are 6-9 AM local time in places like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, coinciding with the first daily prayers and start of the workday.
When posting for a global audience, it’s important to consider major time differences across regions. Paying attention to peak local times can help maximize reach and engagement in key TikTok markets.
Key Takeaways
There are distinct peak usage times on TikTok throughout the day and week when brands and creators can reach the most engaged audience. Some of the key takeaways include:
The early morning between 7-9 AM sees a spike in users checking TikTok over breakfast or on their commute to school or work. Creating content tailored to this audience can help reach engaged viewers.
Lunch breaks from 11 AM – 1 PM are another active period, especially among students, when lighthearted entertainment content tends to thrive.
Late afternoons between 3-5 PM see huge engagement among teens relaxing after school. Fun challenge videos and dance trends do well during this time.
Early evenings between 6-9 PM is primetime on TikTok. Users are winding down their day and looking for entertaining content to watch before bed. Viral trends spread rapidly at this time.
Brands hoping to organize a viral hashtag challenge campaign would do well to plan for weekday evenings when more users are on the app and active. Creators can also coordinate live streams or premieres during peak hours for higher viewership.
Overall, tailoring content style and timing based on audience availability and mindset at different parts of the day can help maximize engagement.
Limitations
While this analysis looks at overall trends in TikTok usage throughout the day, it’s important to note some limitations.
First, the data presented here is based on averages across TikTok’s user base. Individual differences will always exist, so some users may be more or less active at certain times than the averages suggest.
Additionally, TikTok is a rapidly evolving platform with a growing user base. As it expands into new demographics and regions, usage patterns may shift over time. What’s typical today likely will not remain static forever.
These limitations mean this analysis should be considered a snapshot of TikTok activity for the current moment. Patterns could evolve as TikTok itself evolves.
Conclusion
The most active times on TikTok reveal important insights about when users are engaging with content. Understanding peak activity allows creators and brands to schedule posts at optimal times to reach the largest, most engaged audience. It also shows when different demographics are likely to be on the app.
As we’ve seen, mornings and evenings tend to attract the most users, with a dip during typical lunch breaks and school hours. Weekends also see heightened engagement as people have more leisure time. While patterns hold globally, local trends based on time zones impact each region’s rhythms.
Looking ahead, TikTok’s popularity will likely continue growing, especially among younger demographics. As new features emerge, peak activity times may shift and develop. But for now, early mornings and nights drive the most interactions. Brands and creators aiming to maximize impact should align posting strategies with these busy periods.
Understanding when users flock to TikTok provides key insights for standing out in a crowded feed. While engagement fluctuates throughout the day, attracting views takes creativity at any hour.
