More adults hooked on TikTok videos

Chinese short-video giant TikTok has seen a huge bump in adult users in the United Kingdom, as the pandemic shifts increasing numbers of people online, according to a report.

TikTok is already well-established as one of the most popular apps among British teenagers, and the platform now commands a sizable following among over 18s.

The app had 13.9 million adult UK users in March this year, compared to 3.2 million in September 2019, UK broadcasting regulator Ofcom said in its Online Nation 2021 report released this week.

Britons aged 18 to 24 now spend an average of 37 minutes a day on TikTok, up from 17 minutes in late 2019. This daily usage is the third highest among apps with video capabilities, above Snapchat, Twitch, Instagram and Twitter and behind only YouTube and Facebook.

The number of UK adult TikTok users grew by 263 percent between September 2019 and September 2020, compared to a 103 percent increase over the same period a year earlier.