According to internal Google data, almost 40 per cent of Gen Z prefer TikTok and Instagram to Google Search and Maps.
Google confirmed this statistic saying, “we face robust competition from an array of sources, including general and specialized search engines, as well as dedicated apps.”
A Google executive explained that the TikTok format is changing the way young people conduct internet searches. This has prompted Google to work on changing features in Search and Maps to attract a younger audience.
Among the changes Google plans to make to its search engine is the ability for users to pan their camera over an area and “instantly glean insights about multiple objects in a wider scene.”
In addition to Google’s search engine, TikTok also poses a threat to YouTube, a platform owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet.
TikTok is now the fastest-growing social media app in the world. In recent years, the app’s popularity has exploded to such an extent that it has inspired competitors such as Instagram and Snapchat to introduce similar video features in Reels and Spotlight.
The sources for this piece include an article in BusinessInsiderAfrica.