Social media is social media is social media. We all know that’s not true. There are many differences between our favorite platforms, including the way we communicate through them and how they work in general. These are the main differences between TikTok and Instagram.
Table Summary
| TikTok | |
| Launched in 2016 | Launched in 2010 |
| Content: Short videos | Content: Photos and videos |
| Demographics: Teens and young adults | Demographics: Millennials to Gen X-ers |
Getty Images / Moment / Artur Debat
Definitions
Launched in 2010, Instagram is a photo and video-sharing platform. It appeals to a broad audience of Millenials and Gen X-ers and offers several types of ways for users to express themselves, including Stories (ephemeral content), Reels (short videos), IGTV (long videos), Lives (streaming), and Guides (listicles).
TikTok, on the other hand, was released in the Chinese market in 2016 and launched in 2017 for international markets. It allows users to share short, vertical videos of 15 seconds, 1 minute, or 3 minutes. Used mostly by teenagers and young adults, the platform offers a diverse selection of music, sound effects and filters for users to edit their content.
TikTok VS Instagram
While TikTok is used mostly by the younger generation, Instagram has a broader range of demographics. TikTok allows users to share vertical, short-form videos that can be edited with several filters and effects offered in the platform, and Instagram allows users to publish not only videos but also photos that can also be edited in the app.