Who Is Freaking Mostly About The TikTok Ban? | Epic Battle Between Gen Z’s And Millenials!

Gen Z vs. Millennials: TikTok's fate sparks a generational clash—who's freaking out most as the ban deadline looms?
By Kushani Gunathilaka
January 19, 2025
3:28 GMT-0830
Who Is Freaking Mostly About The TikTok Ban Epic Battle Between Gen Zs And Millenials!

The fate of TikTok, with its 170 million American users, hangs in the balance as the Supreme Court considers a law that could ban the platform in the U.S. if its parent company, ByteDance, doesn’t sell its U.S. operations by January 19. For Gen Z (60% of TikTok users) and Millennials (30%), this decision could mean losing a platform that plays a pivotal role in their digital lives.

The stakes are high for Gen Z and Millennials, the two generations who dominate TikTok’s user base, using it for trends, self-expression, and even community building. But here’s the twist: these two groups don’t see eye to eye on the ban.

To settle this battle of opinions, we conducted a survey among our Facebook community of 3.7 million members, receiving 385 responses so far. The results are quite fascinating. Millennials appear to support the ban far more than Gen Z, raising questions about the deeper values driving their views. However, Gen Z’s have also made a twist in their opinion. Let’s dive into this cultural battle to explore their perspectives and reactions.


Generational Divide: TikTok’s Role in Gen Z and Millennial Lives

Gen Z’s Perspective

For Gen Z, TikTok is more than a source of entertainment—it’s their cultural epicenter. The platform shapes trends, fosters creativity, and allows them to express their identities. From K-pop fandoms to gaming communities, TikTok provides Gen Z a space to connect with like-minded individuals.

Losing TikTok means more than losing an app—it’s losing a place where their digital identities thrive. As one user in a survey remarked, “It’s not just about the videos; it’s about the connections and communities we’ve built.”


Millennials’ Perspective

Millennials, on the other hand, approach TikTok differently. For them, it’s often a secondary platform for entertainment and nostalgia. While some Millennials love the creative outlet TikTok provides, others support the ban due to concerns over privacy and national security.

The generational tension becomes evident when Millennials describe TikTok as “fun but not essential,” while Gen Z views it as integral to their culture. This difference in perspective reflects how each generation prioritizes its relationship with technology.

Defining Millennials and Gen Z

Understanding the distinctions between Millennials and Generation Z (Gen Z) is essential, as each generation exhibits unique characteristics shaped by their formative experiences.

Millennials:

  • Birth Years: Generally defined as individuals born between 1981 and 1996.
  • Characteristics:
    • Digital Pioneers: Witnessed the transition from analog to digital technology, experiencing the rise of the internet and social media during their adolescence and early adulthood.
    • Value Work-Life Balance: Tend to prioritize a balance between their professional and personal lives, often seeking flexible work environments.
    • Collaborative and Team-Oriented: Often emphasize teamwork and collective efforts in both professional and personal settings.

Generation Z (Gen Z):

  • Birth Years: Typically includes individuals born from 1997 to 2012.
  • Characteristics:
    • Digital Natives: Born into a world where digital technology and the internet were already pervasive, leading to a high level of comfort with digital communication and social media.
    • Pragmatic and Financially Minded: Having grown up during economic uncertainties, they often exhibit practical approaches to finances and career choices.
    • Diverse and Inclusive: More likely to have grown up in diverse family structures and are generally more accepting of differences in race, sexual orientation, and religion.

Recognizing these generational definitions and traits provides valuable insight into their behaviors, preferences, and responses to societal changes, such as the potential TikTok ban.


Survey Findings: What Our Poll Reveals

A survey conducted among our Facebook community of 3.7 million members sheds light on this generational divide.

The question we asked: “Gen Z vs. Millennials! TikTok is set to be banned in the USA this weekend.🚨 Let’s Hear Your Thoughts on this…”

The Poll options we gave to state the opinion:

  • I’m a millennial and I love the ban 😌
  • I’m a millennial and I hate the ban 😭
  • I’m a Gen Z and I love the ban 😌
  • I’m a Gen Z and I hate the ban 😭

So far, 385 votes have been tallied, revealing the following:

  1. Millennials supporting the ban:
    • Votes: 177
    • Percentage: 46%
    • Analysis: Millennials predominantly back the ban, reflecting concerns over privacy and national security.
  2. Millennials opposing the ban:
    • Votes: 81
    • Percentage: 21%
    • Analysis: A smaller group of Millennials lament the potential loss of TikTok as a fun, creative outlet.
  3. Gen Z supporting the ban:
    • Votes: 86
    • Percentage: 22%
    • Analysis: A notable portion of Gen Z supports the ban, often reluctantly, due to privacy concerns.
  4. Gen Z opposing the ban:
    • Votes: 41
    • Percentage: 11%
    • Analysis: Gen Z voices the least support for the ban, emphasizing TikTok’s role in their culture and identity.

The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA) grants the U.S. government the authority to ban foreign-owned apps like TikTok if deemed a national security threat. This would prevent TikTok from being available in app stores or receiving updates.

Impact on Users

  • TikTok won’t vanish from phones immediately, but without updates, the app could become buggy and incompatible over time.
  • According to legal expert Ruane, “Over time … the service that you get with the application will be worse and worse and worse.”

Workarounds

  • VPNs, sideloading, and jailbreaking could allow users to continue accessing TikTok. However, these methods are technical and come with risks. For instance, Apple won’t honor warranties for jailbroken iPhones.
    As Ruane puts it, “It is a barrier to accessing the application, and … for many casual users, the answer will probably be no.”

Generational Battle Analysis: Interpreting the Survey Findings

Millennials’ Take

  • 46% support the ban due to concerns about privacy and national security. For many, TikTok is seen as non-essential.
  • The 21% opposing the ban enjoy TikTok as a creative and fun outlet, indicating a divide within the generation.

Gen Z’s Take

  • 22% support the ban, often reluctantly, acknowledging privacy concerns or political allegiance.
  • The majority either oppose the ban or are indifferent, viewing TikTok as central to their digital culture.

Conclusion

The survey reveals a clear generational divide. Millennials are more likely to support the TikTok ban, citing concerns over privacy and security. In contrast, Gen Z feels the potential loss more deeply, seeing TikTok as a cornerstone of their culture and identity.

This cultural battle reflects broader societal values—Millennials prioritize practicality and security, while Gen Z emphasizes emotional and cultural connections. The TikTok ban isn’t just about an app; it’s about the collision of generational values in the digital age. What do you think?

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