Children Under 10 Are Signing Up to TikTok Shows Recent Survey

Many children start using TikTok as early as 8-10 years old, even though the platform is supposed to be available only to people over 13 years of age, according to a recent study by the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH) on the habits of TikTok users in Hungary.

The research, based on a representative online questionnaire survey of around 1,000 adults aged 18-49 and a focus group survey of young people aged 10-17, also shows that users are less disturbed by advertising on TikTok compared to other platforms.

More than half of 18-49-year-olds have registered a TikTok account. Facebook remains their favorite platform, while TikTok is only their fourth most popular social networking site. However almost half of those registered spend at least an hour a day on TikTok. Those under 30, with lower education and those living in the county seats are spending the most time scrolling and those over 40, with higher education and those living in the capital city spend the least.

TikTok continues to be preferred for its short, concise and quick-to-consume videos.

Although the platform is trying to allow longer forms of content, two thirds of respondents still prefer the ones with a duration of 30 seconds or less.

Users mostly trust the algorithm and consume content recommended by the platform.

10-17 year-olds are also typically satisfied with what the algorithm has to offer, although they often feel intimidated by how accurately it can match their interests. Many people also watch the channels they follow separately, but these are usually recommended to them by the algorithm anyway. Almost half of users watch live programs and 14% having sent a gift, or financial support, to a content provider.

40% of users aged 18-49 have shared content on the platform, but typically not for business purposes: only 13% of uploaders want to make money from it, and only 9% share videos promoting their own business.

The majority of content production is more about self-expression, letting your voice be heard and, of course, entertaining other users, with adults in their 30s posting the most.

The study shows that 10-17 year-olds tend to be more passive and consume content, while the youngest teenagers post more than their older counterparts. The main reasons for passivity in late teens are both a growing desire to keep their data safe and a growing fear of negative criticism. They are more likely to use Instagram as a platform for self-expression and socializing.

The survey also stated that TikTok has become an inescapable part of advertising campaigns, yet only 19% of adult users find ads on the platform annoying. This may be due to the fact that paid content on TikTok is able to fit in more organically with other content than ads on other platforms.

On average, the majority of young people register to the platform at the age of 10-12, but the research’s focus group interviews also showed that many kids register on the platform earlier, at the age of 8-10.

Young people typically use TikTok on a daily basis, and usually spend one to two hours on the platform each day.

Fact

Another study finds that addiction to short-form videos, such as those on TikTok and Instagram Reels, can lead to increased academic procrastination among college students. Researchers found that this happens because excessive video consumption weakens attentional control, making it harder for students to focus on their studies. These findings raise concerns about the impact of short-form content on the academic performance of young individuals.

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