Why Biden and some state governors are still using TikTok even as US seeks to ban app
- Efforts to ban TikTok over security concerns have gained momentum in the US, where officials and state agencies use it to promote their initiatives among young voters
- ‘It seems to be, Democrats are exclusively having this debate, in terms of having an account and talking of banning it,’ an expert said
Efforts to ban TikTok over security concerns about China’s influence through the platform have picked up steam in the past year in state legislatures, with an expansive ban even proposed by Congress. In Pennsylvania, forward movement on a bill that first unanimously passed the state Senate last year could send legislation to the Democratic governor’s desk imminently.
But even as the app faces scrutiny and bans, governors and state agencies – and even President Joe Biden – are still using the app to promote their initiatives and expand their voting pool. Their target is the youth vote, or the people who largely make up the app’s US user base of 170 million.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, is a prolific poster, with his efforts beginning on the campaign trail through a personal account. The first-termer is a rising star in the Democratic Party and is among governors building national profiles and possibly positioning themselves for a 2028 run for the White House.
His careful messaging extends to his official governor account on TikTok. All coloured with his priorities and stances, videos have him taking part in viral trends, breaking down aspects of his budget proposal, and even taking a dig at Texas via a Beyoncé song.
Other governors use TikTok accounts – among verified accounts, only Democrats – even in states that have banned the app from state devices and networks.