According to a report by the US Precise Advertiser Report: Kids (PARK), YouTube videos are more popular than TikTok among children under the age of 12 in the US, despite the immense popularity of TikTok videos overall. The report reveals that nearly 9 out of 10 kids under 12 access content on YouTube, compared to only 4 out of 10 for TikTok. The preference for YouTube among kids is attributed to the platform’s familiar and preferred content that fits into their daily routines.
To reach this conclusion, the report conducted an online survey with 2,000 children aged 2 to 12 in the US. The survey aimed to understand content consumption trends among young audiences and improve engagement strategies across different media platforms.
The survey found that 86% of kids mentioned YouTube as their most recent content consumption platform, followed by 63% for video on demand. Additionally, 50% of kids mentioned gaming, while only 38% mentioned TikTok.
Interestingly, half of the kids who watch YouTube are aware of YouTube Shorts, and approximately 20% have seen YouTube Shorts Ads during their viewing sessions.
Furthermore, the report highlighted that 27% of kids believe YouTube has the best commercials, while only 10% mentioned TikTok. In terms of social media preferences, 43% of kids preferred YouTube over other apps, while only 21% chose TikTok.
The report also revealed that 49% of parents expressed concerns about their kids using TikTok, while only 34% had concerns about YouTube.
In a separate development, UK campaigner Duncan McCann filed an official complaint with the ICO against YouTube in March. McCann accused the platform of collecting data on children’s activities, including their location and device information, based on the videos they watch. The complaint raises concerns about the privacy and data collection practices involving children on YouTube.
