Biden camp weighs joining TikTok to sway young voters
President Biden's re-election campaign is considering a controversial move to reach young voters in the upcoming 2024 elections.
According to sources close to the campaign, they are weighing whether to join the popular social media platform TikTok. This decision has sparked debate within the Democratic party, with many Republicans avoiding the platform due to data security concerns as it is owned by the Beijing-based company ByteDance.
Despite these concerns, many prominent Democrats have already made their way onto the app, including governors Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Gavin Newson of California, and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania. And it seems their efforts have paid off, as the app has quickly become one of America's most-downloaded apps with over 150 million monthly active users.
The Biden campaign sees this move as a crucial step in boosting the president's appeal to young voters, a demographic that typically favors Democrats. With recent polls showing a drop in enthusiasm among young voters for Biden's re-election bid, joining TikTok could be a game-changer for the campaign.
But joining TikTok is not without its risks.
A Pew survey in July found 59% of Americans believe TikTok is either a minor or major threat to national security. However, the DNC has assured that they take precautions to protect their data and have dedicated devices for use on TikTok.
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Some lesser-known Democrats have also found success on the platform, with North Carolina Rep. Jeff Jackson garnering more followers than even progressive star Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. And even some state Democratic parties, like Wisconsin's, have joined on the TikTok.