Biden Campaign Thrives on China-Owned TikTok
The president signals concern about the app’s ties to China but uses it to reach Gen Z.
Erin Spellman
April 19, 2024
What’s happening: President Joe Biden is wary of TikTok but, as a candidate, he embraces the controversial app. TikTok has been under fire on both sides of the aisle for its links to the Chinese Communist Party. Nevertheless, Biden hopes to earn favor with Gen Z voters via the popular social media platform in his bid for reelection.
The strategy: To facilitate wider dissemination of the Biden administration's messaging on topics such as Covid-19 and student loan bailouts, TikTok influencers were invited to the White House — and the Biden campaign recently joined TikTok to connect with the platform's 149 million U.S. users.
Zoom in: Multiple polls indicate that TikTok is the primary news source for the Gen Z voting bloc; 62 percent of Americans under the age of 30 have reportedly used the platform.
But in government: Nearly 4 million federal employees are banned from downloading TikTok on their government phones. Members of Biden's administration assisted in creating legislation to ban the app, yet Biden is relying on the platform to drum up support among voters.
Why it matters: TikTok moderates content in line with CCP agendas. The Biden campaign’s success on the app — with 299,000 followers — may imply that his candidacy is tolerated by the CCP, even as he angers China by trying to force a TikTok-China divorce. Regardless, Biden’s strategy gives him an edge among Gen Z voters.
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