As social media platforms continue to grow and evolve, so do the ways in which users consume content. In the past decade, we’ve seen a steady shift from traditional forms of media, like television, to social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok. This new era of content consumption is defined by users who are actively engaged with the content they’re viewing, rather than passively consuming it. This shift has led to a new breed of content creators who are focused on creating videos that are designed to be consumed on social media.

While YouTube has been the dominant player in the social media video space for years, TikTok is quickly gaining ground. In just a few short years, TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, with over 1 billion active users. TikTok is particularly popular with Gen Z users, who are flocking to the platform to consume short-form, video content.

Interestingly, TikTok and YouTube appeal to different types of users. YouTube is typically used to watch longer-form, pre-recorded content, while TikTok is mainly used to watch short-form, live-action content. This difference is likely due to the fact that TikTok is a mobile-first platform, while YouTube is primarily accessed on desktop computers. TikTok users are also more likely to interact with the content they’re watching, by commenting, liking, and sharing videos.

So, what does the future hold for TikTok and YouTube? It’s hard to say. YouTube is still the clear leader in the social media video space, but TikTok is quickly gaining ground. It’s possible that the two platforms will eventually converge, with YouTube incorporating more short-form, live-action content, and TikTok adding support for longer-form, pre-recorded content. Or, they may continue to exist as separate entities, each appealing to a different type of user. Only time will tell.