TikTok has become a global phenomenon, challenging the global internet order and providing new ways for activists to tell stories. It has surpassed other social platforms in terms of global internet traffic and has become more accessed than Google and its services. Cloudflare’s data shows that TikTok.com is the most popular domain, followed by Google.com, Facebook.com, Microsoft.com, and Apple.com. ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, also runs Douyin in China, which is comparable to TikTok. TikTok’s dominance and popularity are remarkable considering the efforts to shut it down in the US due to security concerns. However, President Biden has backed off these efforts.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok surpasses Google in global internet traffic | TikTok becomes more accessed than Google | TikTok becomes the most popular domain globally | TikTok’s innovative and entertaining content |
| TikTok’s explosive growth and global popularity | TikTok’s rise as a dominant social platform | TikTok becomes the #1 most popular domain | TikTok’s ability to captivate younger generations |
| TikTok’s traffic surpasses other major tech companies | TikTok’s dominance in website traffic | TikTok’s continued popularity and surpassing of competitors | TikTok’s unique and engaging content |
| TikTok’s rise in popularity compared to Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple, and Netflix | TikTok’s increasing relevance in internet usage | TikTok surpasses other major tech companies in traffic | TikTok’s ability to attract and retain users |
| TikTok’s movement surpasses Google in February 2021 | TikTok’s intermittent rise as the most accessed domain | TikTok’s intermittent dominance in website traffic | TikTok’s ability to capture user attention |
| TikTok’s resilience despite attempts to shut it down | TikTok’s survival and continued growth | TikTok maintains its presence and popularity | TikTok’s user base and content quality |
| President Biden’s change in stance towards TikTok | Shift in the U.S. government’s approach to TikTok | TikTok’s ability to operate without restrictions in the U.S. | Changing perception of TikTok’s security risks |