A recent analysis has revealed that TikTok's annual carbon emissions are likely higher than Greece's total emissions. According to Greenly, a Paris-based carbon accounting consultancy, TikTok emitted approximately 7.6 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) in 2023 in the U.S., U.K., and France alone. This figure surpasses emissions from Twitter/X and Snapchat combined and is just below Instagram’s global footprint, despite Instagram having nearly twice the user base.
Close-up of a person editing a TikTok video of a group of teenagers dancing in a park. AI generated picture.
The report attributes TikTok’s outsized carbon impact to its highly engaging platform, with users averaging 45.5 minutes of daily screen time—significantly longer than Instagram’s 30.6 minutes. The algorithm-driven ‘massification of videos’ incentivises increased platform use, amplifying the emissions generated per user.
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Greenly estimates that TikTok's global emissions likely exceed 50 million metric tonnes of CO2e, as their data does not account for office operations or commuting. For perspective, Greece’s 2023 emissions were 51.67 million metric tonnes of CO2e.
TikTok ranks second-highest in emissions per minute of use among social media platforms, at 2.921 grams of CO2e—just below YouTube. On an annual basis, the average TikTok user generates 48.49kg of CO2e, equivalent to driving a gasoline car for 123 miles.
Unlike other tech giants, TikTok does not publicly disclose its emissions data. While competitors such as Meta and Google report their carbon footprints, TikTok has yet to provide detailed insights. The company has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, with its ‘Project Clover’ initiative focusing on renewable energy adoption. However, its progress remains limited, with just one renewable-powered data centre built in Norway to date.
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