Digital Reclaim: Why Gen Z in Canada Is Leaving TikTok for Indigenous-Owned Platforms

By Eshorjit | Infinitrix News | May 8, 2025

In a subtle yet significant shift across Canada, members of Gen Z are moving away from global social media giants and toward platforms created by and for Indigenous communities. This movement—often referred to as a “digital reclaiming”—is gaining traction especially among urban Indigenous youth and their non-Indigenous allies who seek safer, culturally-rooted digital spaces.

The momentum has sparked a wave of new Indigenous-owned apps, such as SkodenNet, Nokomis, and Mikwé Social, that offer community-first features, algorithm transparency, and trauma-informed moderation—something critics say is sorely lacking in platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

A Call for Cultural Safety

Many young users cite cultural disrespect and data extraction as reasons for leaving mainstream apps. Viral trends that misappropriate Indigenous dances or sacred symbols have caused widespread frustration. “TikTok isn’t built to protect us—it’s built to monetize us,” said Cree-Métis creator Willa Baptiste, who now uploads exclusively to Nokomis, a platform governed by an Indigenous digital council.

Unlike TikTok’s opaque algorithm, Nokomis allows users to opt out of algorithmic feeds and instead choose cultural learning circles, intergenerational content, and language preservation spaces.

Community-Driven Design

What makes these platforms stand out isn’t just their tech—it’s their governance. Many are co-designed with Elders, language carriers, and mental health professionals. Features include ceremony-safe posting times, AI-powered anti-doxing layers, and built-in crisis resources for Indigenous youth facing isolation or identity-based bullying.

“We’re not just coding apps. We’re healing generations through how we design them.” — Jordan Naqvi, Co-founder of Mikwé Social

Why Gen Z Is Listening

This new generation of users is uniquely alert to the politics of platforms. A 2025 University of Ottawa study found that 68% of Indigenous Gen Z users felt unsafe or misrepresented on TikTok. In contrast, 91% said Indigenous-owned platforms made them feel “visible and protected.”

Even non-Indigenous youth are joining. “These platforms taught me more about land acknowledgment and history than my entire high school did,” said Amira Tan, a second-gen Chinese-Canadian teen from Surrey, B.C.

Digital Sovereignty, Not Just Trend

While some may dismiss this as niche activism, the trend is not limited to personal use. Indigenous-run platforms are being adopted by schools, youth justice programs, and even provincial governments as digital alternatives in cultural education programs.

The shift represents more than an app switch—it’s a broader conversation about sovereignty, surveillance, and storytelling in the age of algorithms.

Conclusion: A New Era of Platform Power

Canada’s Gen Z is not just using tech—they’re reshaping its values. As Indigenous-owned platforms gain ground, they’re sending a message to Big Tech: connection without colonization is not only possible—it’s already happening.