Gen Z is ghosting most social apps but TikTok still slaps – at least in terms of use rather than trust.
The Harris Poll’s TikTok Troubles: The Platform Gen Z Can’t Quit (But Doesn’t Trust) report, conducted this month, found that a strong majority of young adults continue to use the app daily, but their feelings about it are increasingly cringe.
Gen Z – those born between 1997 and 2012 – is starting to pull back from social media, taking breaks not just to detox mentally, but to live more offline. Over half of those surveyed said they want to spend more time working out, while 42 percent want to hang with friends and family. Others are exploring creative pursuits as 42 percent want to dive into hobbies, and 39 percent are trying cooking or baking. Some 36 percent want more outdoor time, 34 percent are focused on side hustles and 19 percent are trying to get back into dating.
Still, not everyone is over scrolling as 26 percent said social media still feels like self-care.
Even while taking breaks, many Gen Z users are low-key caught in the scroll loop. About 31 percent admit they scroll out of habit, even when it’s exhausting. Twenty-nine percent said they feel better when they unplug, and 24 percent admitted to getting hit with guilt over all that time spent scrolling.
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Many Gen Z users are only “lurking” on social media, meaning they’re scrolling without posting, liking, or commenting, a habit more common among Gen Z than any other generation, according to the findings.
When it comes to culture and trends, TikTok remains the MVP. Roughly 65 percent of Gen Z use the app daily, and 37 percent say they hit TikTok first for pop culture, entertainment, and local vibes – almost double any other platform.
But even their favorite app can be cheugy – that is, out of date or unfashionable – as 79 percent of respondents said they miss the early days when TikTok was just dancing and fun, before all the ads, influencer flexing, and TikTok Shop took over. Gen Z users are yearning for simpler times: 41 percent want fewer brands and ads, 34 percent miss unfiltered content and relatable posts, 33 percent miss the pre-TikTok Shop era, and 27 percent aren’t vibing with influencer culture.
TikTok is becoming more sus, too, respondents revealed. About 60 percent of Gen Z users say they trust the app less than they used to, while 74 percent are more cautious about what they engage with, and 51 percent think the platform is more censored than it was a year ago.
Ownership changes have made 64 percent more aware of their data, and 28 percent worry about free speech on American-owned TikTok.
The platform is also taking a mental toll as 43 percent say it feels more mentally draining, 40 percent say it’s overwhelming, and many find the algorithm slipping. Seventy-two percent think content is staged, 53 percent see it as more commercial, and 33 percent say they have to “train” the feed to see content they want.
The platform is also taking a mental toll, with many users saying it feels mentally draining (43 percent) or overwhelming (40 percent). The algorithm isn’t hitting like it used to, as 72 percent feel the content is staged and 53 percent think it’s more commercial.
Another 33 percent say their feed isn’t as personalized since the ownership change, which came as TikTok dodged a U.S. ban by setting up a mostly American-owned joint venture with ByteDance.
Still, TikTok isn’t going anywhere. Even with skepticism, fatigue, and nostalgia for the OG app, 65 percent of Gen Z users say they show up daily, and 32 percent plan to use it even more.
The Independent has contacted TikTok for comment.
