Approximately Half Of TikTok Users Under 30 Say They Use It To Keep Up With Politics And News
TikTok has become so popular among young Americans that presidential campaigns are utilizing it for voter outreach. According to a March Pew Research Center survey, some young folks use TikTok to stay informed about politics and news.
Our survey looked at several reasons why people would use TikTok and other social media sites. Young TikTok users differ from their older colleagues for various reasons, including:
Keeping up with current political events or topics: For 48% of TikTok users aged 18 to 29, this is a key or minor reason why they utilize the app.
In comparison, 36% of those aged 30 to 49, and even smaller proportions of older users, say the same:
22% of those 50–64
24% of those 65 or older
Getting the news. We also questioned TikTok users about whether receiving news in general is a reason they utilize the platform, whether it’s political news or something else entirely. Approximately half of individuals under the age of 30 say they use TikTok for news, whether it is significant or trivial.
In contrast, 41% of TikTok users aged 30 to 49 say they use it to get news. The percentage of senior users stating so is even lower.
29% of those 50–64
23% of those 65 or older
TikTok has grown in popularity as a news source, defying other social media platforms. According to a 2023 Center study, more Americans, particularly young Americans, acquire their news from the platform on a regular basis than they did a few years ago.
For additional information on what inspires TikTok use, such as entertainment, which is a big pull for the majority of TikTok users, check out our in-depth look at why and how people use the platform.
What users view and share on TikTok
A bar chart shows that TikTok users under 30 are more likely than those 50 and older to report seeing political content.
Almost half of all TikTok users (45%) report seeing at least some content on politics or political problems on the app. This includes 6% of users who claim to see only or mostly political stuff.
As with other sites we’ve researched, substantially fewer people post about politics than see political content on TikTok. Approximately one-tenth of individuals aged 18 to 29 (7%), 30 to 49 (8%), and 50 to 64 (8%) submit political content there. That contrasts to only 2% of TikTok users aged 65 and up.
However, many people (63%) do not publish anything at all
Only 36% of TikTok users report ever posting or sharing on the platform. Users aged 30 to 49 are the most likely to think this, at 44%. This contrasts to 37% of those aged 18 to 29, 26% of those aged 50 to 64, and 15% of those aged 65 and up.
Seeing news-related content
A bar chart shows that TikTok users under the age of 30 are more likely to see breaking news and perspectives on current events.
Regardless of whether TikTok users claim getting news is a reason they’re there, the majority perceive humor and opinions about news on the platform.
84% of TikTok users have seen funny posts referencing current events.
80% see people sharing their opinions about current events.
57% of news stories are shared, reposted, linked, or screenshotted, while 55% are aware of breaking news events as they occur.
Users under 50 are more likely than older users to report having seen each of these.
TikTok users under the age of 30 are more likely to share their thoughts on current events and breaking news. They are more likely than any other age group to have encountered these two types of information.
TikTok and Democracy
Debates about TikTok’s impact on the political atmosphere in the United States, particularly among young voters, have received national attention. We sought to understand: How do TikTok users perceive the platform’s impact on democracy?
Overall, TikTok users are about twice as likely to believe it is largely positive for American democracy as it is negative (33% vs. 17%). But the majority of users (49%) believe it has little impact on democracy.
TikTok users under 30 are more positive, with 45% saying it’s mostly good for democracy. That compares to:
30% of users are aged 30 to 49.
23% of users 50–64
15% of users are 65 and older.
Even among users under 30, 39% believe the platform has no impact on democracy. That figure rises to 66% among users aged 65 and up.
The March study indicated only minimal differences in TikTok users’ views on the platform’s impact on democracy based on political party affiliation. Still, as lawmakers strive to ban TikTok for national security concerns, other Center research has indicated that public opinion on the platform’s ban is sharply divided by political party.
Read these companion reports to find out how Americans see and interact with TikTok, X (previously
Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram:
How Americans Navigate Politics on TikTok, X, Facebook, and Instagram.
How Americans Receive News on TikTok, X, Facebook, and Instagram
These Pew Research Center publications and analyses are part of the Pew-Knight Initiative, a research program co-funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
