What is the relationship between TikTok and Douyin? What are their differences and similarities?

In recent years, with the rise of social media, TikTok and Douyin have emerged as two prominent short video platforms beloved by users worldwide. However, many people are still unsure about the relationship between TikTok and Douyin. Therefore, let’s delve into the relationship between TikTok and Douyin, revealing their connections and differences.

Similarities between TikTok and Douyin:

1. Same parent company:
   TikTok and Douyin are actually different versions launched by the same company, ByteDance, a Chinese company. TikTok is the version launched by ByteDance for international markets, while Douyin is its version for the domestic Chinese market.Although they differ slightly in name and some features, they share similar core concepts and operational methods. In other words, TikTok and Douyin can be considered as different variants of the same product, sharing similar infrastructure and user experience.
2. Similar content format:
   Functionally and content-wise, TikTok and Douyin are both social media platforms primarily focused on short videos. Users can share short video content ranging from 15 to 60 seconds on these platforms. The content covers various topics including music, dance, comedy, food, travel, etc., attracting users from all over the world.
3. Similar underlying algorithms:
   Although TikTok and Douyin operate in different regions, their underlying algorithms for technology and business models are the same. They determine the magnitude of push based on the same data metrics. Each piece of content uploaded by creators receives an initial level of exposure, and subsequent pushes are based on its initial performance.
4. Similar commercialization paths:
   Both platforms initially focus on sharing short video content, gradually evolving to incorporate e-commerce attributes, and then moving towards influencer marketing, live-streaming sales, paid advertisements, etc. Different demographics follow the same commercial path.

Despite the many similarities between TikTok and Douyin, there are also some differences:

Differences between TikTok and Douyin:

1. Different target markets:
   1. Douyin serves the mainland Chinese market as well as regions like Hong Kong and Macau.
   2. TikTok covers over 150 countries and regions worldwide, involving 75 languages. The traffic push tends to localize and globalize, meaning that TikTok videos from any country may be seen by users worldwide.
2. Different data content:
   Although Douyin and TikTok belong to ByteDance, the data storage, content operations, and content review processes of the two products are independent of each other. Therefore, domestic users cannot directly download and log in to TikTok.
3. Different download volumes:
   1. As of 2023, Douyin had approximately 800 million downloads, while TikTok had over 3 billion downloads globally.
   2. The top ten countries by download volume for TikTok are the United States (136 million), Indonesia (99 million), Brazil (73 million), Russia (51 million), Mexico (50 million), Vietnam (45 million), the Philippines (40 million), Thailand (38 million), Turkey (28 million), and Pakistan (24 million).
4. Different login methods:
   1. Douyin allows login via mobile number, QQ, WeChat, Weibo, and Toutiao, requiring real-name authentication with an ID card for full functionality.
   2. TikTok allows login via overseas mobile numbers, overseas email addresses, Facebook, YouTube, etc., without the need for identity authentication to access all features.
5. Different business opportunities:
   1. Douyin’s video content covers a wide range of topics, and the platform offers a diverse array of products, leading to relatively intense commercial competition.
   2. TikTok is in the early stages of commercialization, and user habits need to be cultivated and educated. It has a huge monetization market and business opportunities.
6. Different monetization features:
   1. Douyin accounts do not allow third-party links.
   2. TikTok allows users to link to company websites, independent sites, platforms like AliExpress, and Amazon. When switching to a business account, users can also link their email addresses and phone numbers.

In conclusion, TikTok and Douyin can be seen as different versions of the same product, sharing similar underlying algorithms and commercial paths. However, they have differences in target audience, data content, and business opportunities. Nevertheless, both TikTok and Douyin attract global users with their unique social experiences and innovative content formats, making them leaders in the social media industry today.