The number of Australians using TikTok surged by more than 50 per cent in the first half od 2020 according to new research from Roy Morgan.
Latest figures show that almost 2.5 million Aussies are now on the popular video-sharing app, marking a user growth of more than 850,000.
This secure’s TikTok’s position as the fastest-growing social media platform in Australia.
“The ‘new kid’ on the social media scene has continued its strong growth in the first half of 2020 with nearly 2.5 million Australians now using TikTok in an average four weeks,” said Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine.
“This represents over one-in-ten Australians aged 6 years and older.”
The data also shows that TikTok’s Australian userbase is primarily female, with women and girls comprising over 60 per cent of local users.
TikTok’s popularity amongst younger Australians was again on display.
Over 70 per cent of all Australian TikTok users are from either Generation Alpha or Generation Z.
“Of the nearly 2.5 million Australians using TikTok in an average four weeks over 70 per cent (1,786,000) are in either Generation Z (1,040,000) or Generation Alpha (746,000),” said Levine.
“Australia’s ‘digital natives’ born this century have grown up surrounded by powerful and frictionless technology as the norm and have taken quickly to TikTok. The highest rate of usage is for ‘tweens’ aged 10-13 years old with nearly 40 per cent on TikTok and teens aged 14-17 years old with almost 30 per cent on the platform.
“Amongst Generation Alpha TikTok is far more widely used than the well-known Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. Only the ubiquitous YouTube is more widely used and the videos on YouTube are more readily accessible without the need for signing up for an account.”
The continued growth of TikTok in Australia has come against the backdrop of a period of upheaval for the app.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed the government would investigate potential security concerns surrounding the Chinese-owned app.
In response, TikTok launched a campaign accusing the government of turning the app into a ‘political football‘.