Carbon Footprint Comparison
Instagram vs TikTok
This comparison captures the line between general social browsing and social feeds dominated by video delivery.
Social
90g
CO2 / HOUR
VS
TikTok
Social
160g
CO2 / HOUR
Higher emissions
Video-heavy social comparison
Summary
When comparing Instagram and TikTok, TikTok generates significantly more CO2 emissions per hour (160g) than Instagram (90g). Both applications rely on devices, networks, and server infrastructure, which all contribute to their environmental impact.
Why the gap happens
- The more a feed leans toward autoplay video, the closer it behaves to streaming.
- Session frequency can matter as much as session length in social products.
- Brightness, screen size, and device type still influence the result on the user side.
What to act on first
If social is a major habit, the first lever is almost always autoplay and total time-on-feed.
TikTok is currently modeled at 70g CO2 more per unit of use than Instagram.
Deep dive into their footprints
Comparison takeaways
The more a feed leans toward autoplay video, the closer it behaves to streaming.
Session frequency can matter as much as session length in social products.
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