After ranking first among the most visited websites globally in 2021, experts predict that TikTok will dominate social media platforms in the coming years. The Chinese app, launched in 2016, surpassed internet giants, having exceeded the number of visits to Google for the first time in February 2021, with similar occurrences in March and May, ultimately becoming the top site in August.
Commenting on the future of intense competition among major internet platforms worldwide, particularly given that it is a Chinese app competing against well-known American applications, digital media expert Mohamed Abdullah stated in an interview with Sky News Arabia: "TikTok has achieved a higher viewership rate than various platforms, such as YouTube. Even within the United States, users spend more time on TikTok compared to those on YouTube."
**Factors of Strength**
Abdullah attributed the growth in TikTok visits to the app's algorithm, explaining: "The algorithm enabled the app to compete strongly in a short timeframe, against global companies that have long maintained control over the internet space." He added, "The app rose from seventh place in 2020 to first place last year, according to most rankings, including Cloudflare, which described TikTok as one of the most important domains in the world for 2021. It also surpassed Facebook in social media platforms and managed to dethrone Google as well."
The digital media expert identified a range of reasons for TikTok's superiority, stating: "The program's policy does not impose many restrictions, and it is characterized by ease of use, allowing nearly all age groups to engage with it. Short videos continue to capture users' attention, especially those related to music, humorous clips, and imitation. Users are also showing interest in similar apps and sites like Likey and Kwai."
The Chinese app provides users, especially from the new generation, with substantial opportunities to share visual content that expresses themselves, helping them to increase their followers. TikTok also allows brands to reach their target audience in entertaining, fun, innovative, and unconventional ways.
Notably, TikTok does not require users to log in upon opening; it directly takes them to the app's content, a strategy that has significantly contributed to increasing the number of users and visits, according to Abdullah.
For reference, the list of the ten most visited websites in 2021 is as follows: TikTok, Google, Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, YouTube, Twitter, WhatsApp.
