Key insights:
- 48% of Gen Zers felt disappointed when TikTok went dark. However, 15% were relieved to take a break from scrolling.
- 16% of Gen Zers support permanently banning the app, with 19% open to the idea.
- While 27% say a ban would take away their community and 33% would lose their creative outlet, 41% of Gen Zers say it wouldn’t affect them much.
- If TikTok were banned, 38% would move to Instagram and 23% to YouTube.
With the nation divided by politics, one thing has kept Gen Z united: TikTok. From staying informed on current affairs to picking up new skills, socializing with friends, and making new ones, the video-sharing app has been an integral part of the young generation’s lives since 2019.
However, with new legislation set to ban TikTok in the United States and the app having already ‘gone dark’ for a day, Gen Z might soon have to find somewhere new to hang out.
Ahead of the impending ban, Edubirdie surveyed 2000 Gen Z Americans on how it would impact their lives. The results show that while disappointed, young people aren’t all that dependent on TikTok—which is great news for its social media rivals.
Scrolling to a halt: How does Gen Z feel about the TikTok ban?
While the TikTok ban reason—concerns over data harvesting and the potential of political interference—seems like a good one, incoming president Donald Trump issued a 75-day extension within days of the China-based platform suspending services in the US market.
This sudden reversal has given Gen Z hope. Just 16% believe the Government will go ahead with a permanent ban, while 33% remain confident that TikTok will continue on.
Whether ByteDance agrees to sell or the Trump administration banishes the bill, not all of its users are eager to see the video-sharing app survive. Having had a taste of life without it, 16% are in support of seeing TikTok banned in the US permanently, while 19% remain open to the idea.
404 TikTok not found: The impact on Gen Z’s wellbeing
With the average Gen Zer dedicating over an hour a day to scrolling through TikTok, its removal is bound to stir some strong emotions. However, for the laid-back generation, the end of their favorite app wouldn’t be the end of the world.
While 48% of users expressed disappointment when the app recently went dark, just 7% reported feeling desperate. In fact, young people were twice as likely to feel relief (15%), appreciating a break from the addictive algorithm.
For many young people, TikTok is more than a platform for following influencers and watching viral content—it’s a space for connection, with 27% stressing that a ban would block them from their community.
TikTok’s population of students would also feel the loss, with 32% of users admitting they would lose a valuable source of information.
Creators, too, would suffer, with 33% reporting they would lose access to their creative outlet and 7% noting it would directly impact their income.
But for many? It’s no biggie—41% of users say a TikTok ban wouldn’t significantly impact their lives.
No TikTok, now what: What would Gen Z do without TikTok?
Should President Trump press ahead with the TikTok ban, 2025 could be a big year for many of its closest competitors. Even the temporary pause in service sparked a significant surge in usage for rival Chinese social network Rednote.
But it’s Instagram and YouTube that stand to benefit most, with 38% and 23% of Gen Zers stating they would move to these platforms if TikTok were to go dark.
TikTok’s future in the US hangs in the balance, but regardless of the outcome, it’s unlikely to get in the way of Gen Z’s desire to scroll, share, and socialize.
_1695128627.png)
