When YouTube became popular, people started checking it out to find reviews, tutorials, and more. And all this instead of using a traditional search engine. Likewise, more and more Internet users, including myself, use TikTok as a search engine.
According to an Adobe report, more than two in five Americans use TikTok as a search engine. Above all, one in ten members of Generation Z trust it more than Google.
When TikTok launched, it was primarily a vertical video entertainment app where people posted dance videos, skits, and trends. However, over time, it has evolved into a platform where people share everything from candid comments to favorite recipes, all in the form of short videos.
The short video format is more informative and more digestible
That’s why, if you need information on something quickly, searching TikTok can often be the most effective alternative to Google. For what ? Because you can get the information you’re looking for in a short, digestible, and slightly personalized format.
In fact, when asked why Internet users use TikTok rather than traditional search engines, 44% say that the short video format is more informative and more digestible, 34% that they appreciate the narrative aspect of TikTok videos, 31% that the content is more personalized and 29% that the information is more current.
Specifically, when using TikTok as a search engine, 36% of users search for new recipes, 35% for new music, 34% for DIY tips, 30% for fashion tips, 29% for workout routines and beauty tips, and 26% product recommendations.
Adobe
How to test search with TikTok?
Despite its popularity, TikTok still lags behind Google, YouTube and Bing as the most useful platform for consumers looking for information.
If you want to try it for yourself, all you have to do is enter – in your TikTok search bar – the term you want to find out more about, and the results will arrive in the form of videos on that topic.
For example, you might search for “easy air fryer recipes,” “ten minute abs workout,” or “iPhone 15 review.”
Source: “ZDNet.com”