TikTok becomes the new search engine for Generation Z in the United States

Recently, a young American named Ja'Kobi Moore planned to apply for a local private high school in New Orleans. However, she learned that she needed at least one letter of recommendation from a teacher to apply for this school. She had no idea about this before, so she decided to look up relevant information.

However, instead of choosing a traditional search engine, she opened TikTok, where she searched for the keyword "teacher recommendation letter."

After searching for a few minutes, she found two relatively useful videos, one of which talked about how to find a teacher to apply for a recommendation letter, and the other mainly introduced the template of the recommendation letter. Both videos were shot by the teacher himself, and the content was easier to understand than the results of web searches.

TikTok first became popular in the United States because of its brainwashing dance videos, but for Generation Z, this software has become their new search tool.

Data shows that more and more young Americans tend to use TikTok to find the content they need.

"On TikTok you can find people's most honest comments and feelings about food," said Nailah Roberts, a 25-year-old TikTok user who has been using TikTok to find local food.

TikTok, as a search tool that has become popular across the United States, is actually a microcosm of the digital transformation of search engines.

Today, people go to Amazon to find products, Instagram to find trending news , and Snapchat’s map feature to find local businesses.

As the world continues to digitize, there will be more and more ways to search for information.

Young people in the United States say that TikTok's content is more interactive and lively than traditional search results.

Not only do they search for products or companies on TikTok, they also look for answers to certain questions, which is difficult to find on traditional search engines.

Alexandria Kinsey, a 24-year-old social media operator in Arlington, Virginia, searches for a wide range of things on TikTok: cooking recipes, movie theaters and nearby bars. She also searches for less common questions, such as interviews with actor Andrew Garfield and weird conspiracy theories.

TikTok is also constantly optimizing its information search function. It is reported that the short video platform is testing a new function that can identify keywords in comments and links and include them in search results.

In Southeast Asia, TikTok also plans to launch a column dedicated to displaying nearby content so that users can find entertainment and service facilities around them more quickly.

TikTok is already the most downloaded app among people aged 18 to 24, according to Sensor Tower.

As its search and location functions are optimized, TikTok may further consolidate its position among young users.

TikTok

Generation Z