TikTok, the fastest-growing social media platform in the US, has become incredibly influential. Nowhere is its influence clearer than in New York City.
Yes, the country’s most populated city absolutely loves TikTok.
The proof is in the numbers. It has millions of active monthly users in the city, with thousands of businesses also using it to promote products and services.
And if the numbers aren’t convincing enough, just visit the Brooklyn Bridge or the city’s many cafes. You’ll find a creator recording a TikTok video on any given day.
As a creator-first digital marketing agency, we understand the power of TikTok and its users. And that’s why we curated this list of NYC TikTok statistics that clearly show just how big the platform is in the Big Apple.
P.S. Looking for the best TikTok agency to work with? Try inBeat Agency–the agency brands choose when they want to work with TikTok creators.
NYC’s Social Media Audience at a Glance
New York City’s social media market is defined by its immense cultural diversity and a high concentration of "early adopters" who drive national trends.
The city remains a "tweeting town" and boasts more X (formerly Twitter) users than any other global city. Likewise, it’s also a critical hub for high-energy platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
And unlike the broader U.S. market, NYC’s audience is notably more ethnically diverse and multilingual, with a significant segment of users engaging in languages other than English.
Fun Fact: New Yorkers speak over 700 languages; that’s 10% of the global total.
Furthermore, the city's unique reliance on public transit creates a "captive mobile audience." When people get on the subway and the buses, they usually turn to their phones and scroll through social media. That means higher engagement levels during morning and evening commutes (or really any time of the day).
And this audience isn't just scrolling for entertainment. They use social media as a primary discovery engine for local commerce, news, and civic information.
Here’s NYC’s social media usage and habits in numbers:
- Twitter/X Dominance: New York City has the highest number of Twitter users of any city in the world (NYU Wagner).
- High Engagement: Approximately 93% of NYC teens and 54% of children use some form of social media, exceeding national averages for early exposure (NYC.gov).
- Mobile-First Usage: In line with national trends but amplified by NYC's walking and transit culture, 83% of social ad spend is projected to be mobile-generated by 2030 (Sprout Social).
- Platform Favorites: Instagram and TikTok are among the most popular platforms in the city, especially with the youth.
New York TikTok Statistics: Users, Trends, Impact, and More in Numbers
NYC is a vibrant, youthful city that’s very active on social media. TikTok, in particular, seems to be one of the most popular platforms for the city’s 8.5 million people.
Let’s look at some interesting statistics and facts about TikTok’s use and influence in NYC:
1. New York State has over 8 million users.
As of 2025, New York State has over 8 million active TikTok users, many of whom are from NYC. That means around 51% of the state's adult population is already on the platform.
Despite the political uncertainty surrounding the platform, its user base has remained strong in New York and across the country. That shows just how powerful it can be in terms of exposure and going ‘viral.’
2. 52.8% of TikTok users in NYC are 18-24 years old.
According to data from Start.io, more than half of TikTok's NYC user base is aged 18 to 24.
That’s also the trend nationwide, with as many as 23.9% of TikTok users globally falling in the same age group.
That’s hardly surprising given the platform's popularity among young people, especially Gen Z. In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Gen Z has made TikTok so popular all around the world. They were the early adopters and promoters.
3. Most of the TikTok NYC audience is male.
When it comes to the gender distribution of TikTok users, an estimated 71.6% are male, and 28.4% are female (Start.io).
Interestingly, its rival platform, Meta’s Instagram, has a near-50-50 gender demographics breakdown. Around 50.6% of its users are male, and the remaining 49.4% are female.
Young men are increasingly turning to the platform for memes, reaction videos, financial literacy, health/fitness, and lifestyle content. For brands targeting young men, TikTok can be an indispensable asset.
Menswear brands like Dockers (with the help of inBeat) have leveraged TikTok and its male creators to tell stories in their own words and give the well-known and trusted brand a refreshing touch. And the results can only be described in one word: massive.
4. Around 37.5% of TikTok users in NYC earn less than $25K per year (as per Start.io).
That gives us a peek into the city’s economic diversity on the app and also shows why affordable products or value-driven content can perform really well. It’s a reminder that TikTok is a platform where economic realities shape content and purchasing behavior.
5. TikTok users in New York City access the platform using mid-range Android phones.
According to Start.io, these devices include the Samsung Galaxy A10s, Huawei Y9 Prime, and Samsung Galaxy A21s.
That’s useful info for brands and creators tailoring content. If your ads or content look clunky on lower-end devices, you’re missing a big chunk of the audience. So, we advise you to optimize for real-world conditions (not just iPhone 15 Pro Max).
6. The average time spent on TikTok is 52 minutes a day.
In the U.S., the average TikTok user spends about 52 minutes per day on the platform.
That’s more screen time than many competing platforms, making it a high-attention zone for brands.
If your content is strong, you’ve got almost an hour to get noticed, every single day. That’s a huge window to win attention, engagement, and eventually, conversions.
7. Nearly 43% of U.S. adults under 30 say they regularly get news from TikTok.
This trend is turning the platform into more than just entertainment. According to Pew Research, TikTok is becoming a trusted feed for world events, opinions, and even activism, especially among Gen Z. That’s something brands can tap into with thoughtful, timely content that feels relevant.
8. TikTok drives 36% of all direct purchases from social media.
A 2025 social media index found that 36% of all direct purchases via social media now happen on TikTok, which beats out several of its competitors.
That stat alone makes a strong case for the platform’s selling power. For NYC-based SMBs, TikTok is a sales machine. Combine that with TikTok Shop’s in-app checkout and the right content, and you’ve got a recipe for real, trackable revenue.
9. TikTok ads had a $1.8 billion impact on New York’s GDP.
TikTok is the preferred platform for many small businesses around the country. And New York state is no exception. In 2023, TikTok reportedly contributed $1.8 billion to the state’s GDP.
This was driven by small and medium-sized businesses advertising on the platform.
In addition, advertising revenue by New York businesses generated $410 million in federal, state, and even local tax revenue. That goes to show just how impactful the platform is for both local businesses and the government.
10. 438,000 businesses in New York use TikTok.
According to TikTok’s own data, around 438K businesses are on TikTok. That includes SMBs, large brands, and even foreign entrants seeking a slice of the huge New York and NYC market.
Small businesses, in particular, have had many successes with TikTok content. The short-form vertical format video content works well with niche audiences that such businesses typically target. And many of them even go viral and have seen success overnight. As per the Oxford Economics report, 88% of small businesses using TikTok reported increased sales.
But as we said, it’s not just small businesses. Even big companies are finding success with TikTok, especially with expansions.
At inBeat, we’ve helped brands break into the US market with savvy, creator-driven campaigns on TikTok that introduce them in light-hearted, authentic, and sometimes fun ways. That’s exactly what we did for Mogu Mogu, an Asian drink brand.
11. 330K jobs in New York benefit from TikTok.
Around 330,000 jobs in the state benefit from TikTok business accounts. This may include jobs directly linked to the platform, such as content creation for the business or account management. It could also include creators who work with brands.
Either directly or indirectly, TikTok helps businesses generate more revenue, which, in turn, also helps them retain and hire workers.
12. 77% of SMBs in New York had a sold-out product because of TikTok.
TikTok’s survey in collaboration with Oxford Economics found that more than three-fourths of SMBs active in New York have used the platform to experience sold-out moments.
Once a video blows up, it can sometimes lead to instant sales in the thousands–so much so that many businesses are unable to keep up.
See the story of a baker in Brisbane, Australia, who saw her cookies sell out, thanks to TikTok content.
13. 91% of businesses saw an increase in sales after using TikTok in New York.
A whopping 91% of businesses in New York have reported seeing a rise in sales after promotion on TikTok.
Both organic reach and paid ads can help bring in more sales. It also helps that TikTok Shop has made it super convenient for users to place orders directly in the app.
If a user likes your content, and by extension, the product or service, they can simply buy it right there.
That’s why more and more bands are taking advantage of TikTok’s ecommerce features. The gross merchandise value on TikTok has increased from $1 billion in 2021 to $33 billion in 2025.
14. NYC was the second most viewed city on TikTok in 2022 (59.5 billion hits).
Ok, this one’s old but shows why TikTok is so important for brands, especially B2C ones like in fashion, makeup, beauty, hospitality, retail, and more. In 2022, the Big Apple got 59.2 billion hits, second only to Dubai, which garnered 82 billion hits.
Other popular cities on TikTok in that year included London, Paris, and Istanbul.
TikTok can prove instrumental in propping up tourism in places like NYC. The main attractions like Times Square and Central Park are already very popular. However, the TikTok community helps tourists find lesser-known spots and travel hacks to explore popular cities.
That can be beneficial for local eateries and retailers, as they can target tourists with their content and paid efforts like top-view ads with NYC-related hashtags and terms.
15. NYC hosts some of the most popular TikTok creators.
So many popular social media influencers with millions of followers call NYC home. And they’re spread throughout the five boroughs, but more so in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Some of the biggest TikTok creators based in the city include:
- Joe Mele
- Liza Koshy
- Hayley Kalil
- Meredith Duxbury
- Kelly Salpeter
For brands that want to tap top local creators, NYC has no shortage. But the city also offers a large variety of micro and nano influencers with highly niche and engaged small followings that are largely local. That’s what we use for highly engaging, high ROI creator partnerships.
16. TikTok ads are much cheaper than NYC billboards.
Outdoor advertising in NYC is expensive. For instance, it can cost businesses $250 to $1,000 per day to advertise in Times Square. And premium billboards can cost $5,000 to $50,000.
In contrast, digital ads on TikTok are much cheaper.
TikTok Auction ads have a cost per click (CPC) of just $1, while the cost per 1000 impressions (CPM) is $10. In-feed ads start at $10 per impression.
For large, long-running campaigns, advertising on TikTok can be highly profitable, especially when compared with digital out-of-home (OOH) ads. That’s because with TikTok, you can better target your audience and pay for impressions and clicks that actually matter.
That said, OOH ads have their own place, but as far as costs go, digital ads can be much more cost-effective.
The Takeaway for Marketers: TikTok’s Reach in NYC Is Undeniable
For marketers, New York City is no longer just a "billboard town.” In fact, it’s a TikTok town.
As of 2026, the platform has solidified its role as the primary engine for local discovery and cultural currency. The undeniable reach in NYC stems from the city's unique density. A single viral video can lead to immediate, real-world foot traffic that overwhelms a local business within hours.
That said, TikTok is unique in that it’s not about the most polished, high-production branded ads. Instead, it thrives on raw, authentic, people-centric content. That’s why marketers should move to a more creator-led approach when using TikTok.
We’ve seen brands achieve amazing success through TikTok creator collaborations at lower costs than on other social media platforms. Even the brand’s own content should be unforced and authentic, for example, behind-the-scenes videos with employees or product reviews from actual customers. That’s the kind of stuff that does well on TikTok, both organically and with paid promotions.
The takeaways are simple, really:
- TikTok is particularly popular in NYC and other big cities like it because of the diverse variety of content it offers through entertainment accounts, influencers, and micro creators.
- Lo-fi authenticity, leveraging NYC’s diverse creator pool to reach niche micro-communities, can work well for brands looking to expand into the city.
- With TikTok Shop now a major player in the local e-commerce space, the "path to purchase" for New Yorkers has been shortened to a single tap, and that makes the platform indispensable for any brand.
- Short-form videos in general outperform other types of content (2.5x more than long-form videos), and videos made for TikTok can also be used on other platforms like Instagram or X.
In other words, if you’re not already on TikTok, especially when your target audience is, you’re missing out on highly profitable opportunities.
Leverage TikTok in NYC (with inBeat)
TikTok is where screen time, pop culture, and commerce collide, especially in New York City. With highly engaged Generation Z audiences, exceptional mobile app open rates, and a powerful content recommendation algorithm, TikTok shapes daily conversations around music trends, celebrity gossip, and emerging cultural movements.
At inBeat Agency, TikTok is core to how we drive outcomes.
We’ve helped brands like Prose, New Balance, Soylent, and Hurom activate NYC’s diverse creator community to produce native content that resonates across varied user demographics. And then also use the content for paid media to amplify the effect.
The goal is clear: lower costs and maximum outcomes.
If your brand wants to cater to the massive NYC market, TikTok is the platform to use, and inBeat Agency is the partner to do so. We have the expertise, experience, and network of creators to launch campaigns quickly and measure their progress continuously.
FAQ
Which state uses TikTok the most?
Georgia, California, and Texas use TikTok the most. It’s also quite popular in Nevada, with over 50% of the state on the app.
How much does it cost to advertise on TikTok?
Advertising on TikTok costs start at $10 per CPM (cost per 1,000 views). Campaigns require a minimum spend of $500. Branded hashtag challenges and TopView ads can cost from $50,000 to over $150,000, depending on reach.
How to find TikTok creator accounts from New York City?
Find TikTok creators from New York City by using TikTok’s Creator Marketplace, filtering by location and niche. You can also work with an agency like inBeat Agency to search, vet, and hire TikTok creators for paid content.
How much does it cost to hire a TikTok influencer in NYC?
TikTok influencer earnings in NYC typically range from $200 to $2,500 per post, depending on follower count and engagement. Nano influencers charge around $200, while macro influencers in NYC may charge over $2,500 for brand deals. More famous creators may charge even higher.
