In this article, we are going to be covering Gen Z uses TikTok as a search engine, as the young population prefers social media when searching for things.
Young people are increasingly turning to social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram to find things to do and places to visit, as well as news and critical information, rather than conventional discovery tools like Google Search and Google Maps.
Google’s Prabhakar Raghavan, a senior vice president in charge of Google Search told that, according to TechCrunch, “In our studies, something like almost 40 percent of young people when they’re looking for a place for lunch, they don’t go to Google Maps or Search. They go to TikTok or Instagram.” He’s referring to a poll of 18 to 24-year-olds in the United States.
Gen Z uses TikTok as a search engine
In a conversation about the development of search, he casually mentioned that younger people were increasingly turning to applications like Instagram and TikTok for discovery rather than Google Search or Maps.
“We keep learning, over and over again, that new internet users don’t have the expectations and the mindset that we have become accustomed to.” Raghavan said, adding, “the queries they ask are completely different.”
These consumers are less likely to put in keywords and are more likely to seek out material in fresh and immersive ways, according to him. We must agree that the amount is a little startling. Google verified to us that his views were based on internal data that included a poll of 18 to 24-year-olds in the United States. The data has not yet been made public, but it may be put on Google’s competition site in the future, along with other statistics, such as how 55 percent of product searches now begin on Amazon.
While older internet users may be unable to comprehend using a social video app to find a restaurant, this trend has the potential to erode Google’s core business of search and discovery over time — not to mention the advertisements sold in response to such inquiries. While younger users may eventually use a map app for navigation, this research suggests that they do not always begin their trip on Google. That implies that all of the efforts Google has done over the years to organize, curate, and recommend various companies — such as local eateries — or to provide discovery tools inside Google Maps may be wasted on these younger internet users.
Raghavan also stated that younger people were typically interested in more “visually rich forms” of search and discovery, which were not confined to where to eat. He noted that today’s young people had never seen a paper map (oof, how to make us feel ancient! ), but mapping products have been created to seem like a paper map that’s been “put on the phone.” This does not fulfill the expectations of younger people and is the incorrect experience to provide them, he claims.
“We have to conjure up completely new expectations and that takes altogether new … technology underpinnings,”
For example, Google Maps is now using augmented reality to assist users to situate themselves in their surroundings, rather than requiring them to decide which way to travel based on a blue dot flashing on the screen. Other Google Maps upgrades were recently disclosed at the company’s developer conference Google I/O, where it demonstrated new 3D modes and immersive views, among other things, that make Maps feel less like a digital version of a paper map.
Raghavan also argued that the desire for visual material among younger people may alter Google Search. However, he assumed this was part of Search’s continuing review. Previously, he continued, online visitors would enter a few simple terms into a search engine and receive a list of blue links in response. Later, search engines learned to interpret natural language and then introduced support for voice inquiries. According to the executive, speech now generates 30 percent of all requests in some regions, since new internet users don’t bother typing.
We hope that you enjoyed this article on Gen Z uses TikTok as a search engine. If you did, we are sure that you will also enjoy reading our other articles, such as the new Google Play Store policy is banning some apps, or what is TikTok Music and why is it threatening Spotify and Apple.
