Gen Z and TikTok: The New Search Engine

Questions and Answers

What is the age range of people referred to as Gen Z?

Born between 1990 and 2005

Born between 1985 and 2000

Born between 2000 and 2015

Born between 1997 and 2012 (correct)

Why did Ja'Kobi Moore use TikTok's search bar?

To ask for help with a math problem

To find a template for a letter of recommendation (correct)

To connect with friends

To find viral dance videos

What makes TikTok's algorithm appealing to Gen Z?

It is a traditional search engine

It provides general information on various topics

It only shows viral dance videos

It personalizes the videos shown based on interactions with content (correct)

Why does Nailah Roberts prefer using TikTok to find restaurants?

She finds bite-size clips more informative than written reviews Signup and view all the answers

What is the broader transformation in digital search that TikTok's rise is part of?

A shift from traditional search engines to social media Signup and view all the answers

What does TikTok's algorithm do with user interactions?

It personalizes videos based on user interactions Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of TikTok videos over Google search results or YouTube videos, according to Ja'Kobi Moore?

They are made by teachers and easier to understand Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'interaction' refer to in the context of TikTok's algorithm?

The action of one upon another or others Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of young people look for a place for lunch on TikTok or Instagram instead of Google Maps or Search?

40 percent Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary way Gen Z-ers search for information on TikTok?

Crowdsourcing recommendations from videos and verifying suggestions based on comments Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between searching on Google and searching on TikTok?

Searching on Google involves typing in a query, while searching on TikTok involves watching videos Signup and view all the answers

What is the length of YouTube Shorts videos?

Less than a minute long Signup and view all the answers

Why does Google think TikTok is encroaching on its search engine territory?

Young people are using TikTok to search for products and local businesses Signup and view all the answers

What is TikTok's response to questions about its search function and products in testing?

It is always thinking of new ways to add value to the community Signup and view all the answers

What type of content has Google incorporated into its search results since 2019?

Images and videos, including TikTok videos Signup and view all the answers

What do Gen Z-ers often use TikTok for, besides searching for products and local businesses?

Asking questions about how to do things and finding explanations for what things mean Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Gen Z and TikTok

Gen Z refers to people born between 1997 and 2012.
For Gen Z, TikTok is increasingly used as a search engine, in addition to its viral dance videos and pop music.

TikTok's search functionality

TikTok's powerful algorithm personalizes videos shown to users based on their interactions with content.
Users can find information catered to their tastes through TikTok's search bar.
TikTok videos provide a more interactive and personalized experience compared to traditional Google searches.

How Gen Z uses TikTok

Ja'Kobi Moore, 15, used TikTok to find information on how to ask teachers for a letter of recommendation.
Nailah Roberts, 25, uses TikTok to look for restaurants in Los Angeles, and finds bite-size clips more engaging than written reviews.

Shift in digital search

Google remains the world's dominant search engine, but people are turning to other platforms for specific search needs (e.g., Amazon for products, Instagram for trends, Snapchat's Snap Maps for local businesses).
Google has taken notice of TikTok's rise as a discovery tool.

Google's response

Google has incorporated images and videos into its search engine, including TikTok videos since 2019.
Google released YouTube Shorts in 2020, which shares vertical videos less than a minute long, and includes this content in search results.

Interactive searching on TikTok

Searching on TikTok is often more interactive than traditional Google searches.
Gen Z-ers crowdsource recommendations from TikTok videos, watching multiple videos to find what they're looking for.
They verify the veracity of suggestions based on comments posted in response to videos.

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Description

This quiz is about an article discussing how Gen Z uses TikTok as a search engine and Google's response to its popularity. It also mentions a personal anecdote about a high school student.