The version of Douyin used by Chinese adults resembles U.S.-based TikTok, except for some propaganda in favor of the Chinese Communist Party and a lack of alternative viewpoints on hot-button topics, said Kaiser Kuo, the host of "Sinica Podcast," a U.S.-based podcast on current affairs in China.

"It's essentially the same stuff," Kuo told ABC News. "It's shredding guitarists and funny skits. People showing off the material accouterments of life. People doing clever recipes." ...

More noticeable differences between TikTok and Douyin arise when the respective apps are looked at through the lens of young users, some experts said. In the U.S., children experience the same version of TikTok as adults, while children in China see a modified version of Douyin that includes more educational content, they said.