• TikTok's high carbon footprint is due to the energy needed to run its data centres.
• The company has committed to carbon neutrality by 2030, but so far, the only action taken is building a renewable energy-powered data centre in Norway.

TikTok, a social media platform for creating short videos, has become a major contributor to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

In 2023, the social media giant was responsible for pumping out 50 million metric tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere, according to a recent study conducted by Greenly. This is roughly the same as the emissions of the entire country of Greece for 2023.

TikTok's data centres and servers require a lot of energy to process videos uploaded and watched by its users, which is the main reason for its massive carbon footprint.

Also, the company's carbon footprint remains higher than those of other social media platforms, such as Twitter (X) and Snapchat. The amount of time users spend on a platform is a primary factor. On average, TikTok users spend around 45.5 minutes daily on the app, while Instagram users spend only about 30.6 minutes. The longer a user stays on the app, the higher the energy consumption and emissions.

READ MORE: UN: AI Fuelled 150% Rise in Tech Giants’ Data Centre Emissions

The average TikTok user produces around 48.49 kg of CO2 per year, equivalent to the emissions generated by driving a gasoline-powered car for 123 miles. Meanwhile, YouTube and Instagram users generate 40.17 kg and 32.52 kg of CO2 per year, respectively.

These emissions (on each platform) are calculated based on the energy used by data centres and the energy required to charge devices while accessing the app.

Why are TikTok's emissions so high?

TikTok's addictive algorithm pulls in users, encouraging them to stay longer on the app, primarily by engaging in endless scrolling of short videos. The longer they spend on the platform, the more energy is consumed to keep it running. The company's data centres must handle the sheer volume of video data, which contributes to its large carbon footprint.

Many social media platforms, like Meta (Facebook) and Google, report their carbon footprint and environmental impact, unlike TikTok. Since TikTok does not release details of its carbon emissions, it is difficult to understand the extent of its environmental impact. While the company has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2030, progress has been slow. It has only built a renewable energy-powered data centre in Norway, which runs on 100% green energy.

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Source: The Guardian