TikTok's Rise: Ranking as the Third Largest Social Network in 2022

TikTok Ascends to Third-Largest Social Network Globally

A recent industry forecast positions TikTok as the world's third-largest social network, trailing only Facebook and Instagram in user base. Insider Intelligence, formerly known as eMarketer, released its initial TikTok global install base forecast, projecting 755.0 million monthly users for the platform in 2022.

Growth Trajectory

This prediction follows substantial growth for TikTok, with a 59.8% increase observed in 2020 and a further 40.8% expansion in 2021. The platform’s rapid adoption has quickly established it as a major player in the social media landscape.

Comparison with Leading Platforms

Facebook currently reports 2.91 billion monthly active users, reflecting a 6% year-over-year growth rate. Instagram, according to internal data recently disclosed by its employees, has exceeded 2 billion monthly users, a significant increase from the 1 billion milestone reached in June 2018.

Methodological Considerations

It’s important to note that Insider Intelligence’s forecast is based on its own 2022 projections and a unique methodology. The firm employs a specific definition of a monthly active user, potentially differing from the metrics used by the social networks themselves.

Specifically, their calculations consistently count users logging in at least monthly throughout the year, while also attempting to exclude fraudulent accounts from their estimates. This approach aims to provide a standardized comparison across different platforms.

Projected User Numbers for 2022

Insider Intelligence estimates Facebook will reach 2.1 billion monthly users in 2022, with Instagram following at 1.28 billion. TikTok is anticipated to achieve 755 million monthly users, surpassing both Snap and Twitter in user count.

Rapid Expansion in Recent Years

TikTok has experienced considerable growth over the past few years. The platform’s popularity has surged, attracting a large and engaged user base.

Download and Spending Statistics

Sensor Tower, an app intelligence firm, reported that TikTok surpassed 2 billion downloads across the App Store and Google Play in the first quarter of 2020. Further analysis by App Annie revealed a 325% growth rate for TikTok in 2020.

Moreover, the average time spent per user on TikTok grew at a faster pace than any other application, including a 65% increase within the United States, exceeding Facebook’s usage figures.

Global Reach and Financial Performance

By July 2021, Sensor Tower indicated that TikTok, inclusive of its Chinese counterpart Douyin, became the first non-Facebook mobile app (excluding games) to reach 3 billion downloads globally. Consumer spending on TikTok also exceeded $2.5 billion worldwide.

This achievement placed TikTok among a select group of apps that have attained this financial milestone, alongside Tinder, Netflix, YouTube, and Tencent Video.

Conservative Forecast and Continued Growth

While some predictions suggested TikTok would exceed 1 billion monthly active users in 2021, Insider Intelligence’s forecast is somewhat more conservative due to its analytical approach. However, continued growth is still expected, albeit at a reduced rate of 15.1% in 2022.

Increasing Market Share

Consequently, TikTok’s share of the overall social networking user base is steadily increasing. Insider Intelligence forecasts that TikTok will surpass a 20% market share for the first time and approach a one-quarter share by 2024.

Competitive Landscape

“TikTok’s rise presents a significant challenge to Snapchat, as both platforms directly compete for the attention of younger demographics,” stated Debra Aho Williamson, principal analyst at Insider Intelligence. “Despite the differences between TikTok and Twitter, TikTok’s substantial size relative to the more established platform underscores the captivating nature of its content.”

Future Potential

The firm also highlights the considerable potential for TikTok’s future expansion, noting that 3.57 billion individuals are projected to utilize a social networking app at least once per month in the coming year.