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TikTok Ban: 83 Percent of Users Don't Care About the App's Connection to Chinese Government

TikTok is about to be banned by the US government, and young people are unhappy about it. Millennials and Gen Z aren't worried about privacy or China.

 & Jason Cohen Senior Editor, Help & How To

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Donald Trump has signed an executive order that would cripple the short-form video app TikTok by prohibiting US app stores, credit card companies, and software providers from working with it. Despite the impending ban, a majority of the app's users remain loyal, don't want TikTok to go away, and aren't interested in any of the alternatives.

TruePublic surveyed 10,562 Gen Z and Millennials ages 16 to 35 on how they feel about the looming TikTok ban, and users are not happy. Of the respondents, 51 percent were upset about the ban, and just 21 percent supported it. Another 28 percent responded that they didn't care either way.

graphic showing survey data concerning TikTok

Most interesting is the fact that 83 percent of users are not concerned enough about the Chinese government potentially collecting their personal data to consider deleting the app. Just 41 percent of respondents say TikTok should be banned because of privacy risks.

People aren't very interested in the US alternatives to TikTok. When asked whether users would switch to something else, 28 percent named Triller, and 27 percent named Byte. But 45 percent of respondents said they would either use another unspecified app or none of the alternatives. When asked specifically about TikTok versus Triller, respondents overwhelmingly chose TikTok (88 percent).

TikTok's popularity is powered by youth, but that doesn't mean it's their favorite social media platform. According to TruePublic's survey, an overwhelming 49 percent of Gen Z respondents prefer Instagram, followed by Snapchat (22 percent), TikTok (16 percent), and Facebook (13 percent).

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About Our Expert

Jason Cohen

Jason Cohen

Senior Editor, Help & How To

My Experience

As PCMag's editor of how to content, I have to cover a wide variety of topics and also make our stories accessible to everyday users. Considering my history as a technical writer, copywriter, and all-around freelancer covering baseball, comics, and more at various outlets, I am used to making myself into an expert.

I believe tech corporations are bad, but you might as well know how to use technology in everyday life. Want more how to content delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the tips and tricks newsletter that I curate twice a week.

The Technology I Use

My job as how-to guru means I use just about every gadget under the sun, so I can figure out how everything works. I work from a Lenovo ThinkPad running Windows 11, but also have a very large Dell Inspiron 17 3000 and Apple silicon MacBook. I also have a Google Pixel 6a for personal use and use a Galaxy Z Flip 4 for additional Samsung-related testing. For iOS coverage, an iPhone 13 mini works like a charm, though it's already becoming a little long in the tooth.

My desktop situation includes a dual monitor setup with a modest Acer monitor. I also use a Logitech mouse (who can use these ThinkPad trackpads) and a Havit keyboard (my first mechanical keyboard; I love it but my wife hates it!). I'm a recent convert from wired headphones; I have Anker Soundcore Liberty Air wireless earbuds for personal use and have taken to the Sennheiser HD 450BT headphones for work.

Whenever I have a second to myself, I'm probably gaming on my Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, or Xbox Series S. I also still have a bunch of classic consoles lying around as well.

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