TikTok, the popular short video platform, could be generating a carbon footprint larger than that of Greece, according to an analysis by the consultancy Greenly. In 2023, the social network’s emissions in the United States, United Kingdom, and France reached 7.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). These figures surpass those of platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Snapchat, and place TikTok just above Instagram, although the latter has nearly twice as many users.
The environmental impact of TikTok is linked to the time its users spend on the app. While Instagram users spend an average of 30.6 minutes a day on the platform, TikTok users spend 45.5 minutes daily. “The algorithm is designed for the mass distribution of videos,” explained Alexis Normand, CEO of Greenly. This increases the individual carbon footprint as it encourages greater content consumption.
Greenly estimates that the global carbon footprint of TikTok could be around 50 million metric tons of CO2e, if global data is considered and not just that of certain countries. This is close to the annual emissions of Greece, which were 51.67 million tons in 2023. Additionally, the report notes that emissions associated with data centers account for 99% of TikTok’s footprint, excluding other sources such as offices or employee transportation.
At an individual level, TikTok users generate an average of 48.49 kg of CO2e per year, equivalent to driving 198 kilometers in a gasoline car, surpassing YouTube (164 kilometers) and Instagram (133 kilometers). However, TikTok also stands out for its lack of transparency in environmental data, as, unlike Meta or Google, it does not publish detailed reports or collaborate with carbon disclosure projects.
TikTok has committed to being carbon neutral by 2030 through initiatives like “Project Clover,” which includes a data center in Norway powered by renewable energy. However, the future of these commitments is at least uncertain due to potential changes in the company’s ownership, as ByteDance, the parent company, could be forced to sell the platform in the United States before January 19, 2025.
