President Joe Biden’s 2024 campaign has made its debut on TikTok, despite previous worries about national security risks associated with the platform, which led to its ban on federal devices.
Biden himself is unlikely to join TikTok, according to aides, nor will other members of his administration.
Instead, the campaign team will solely manage the account, aiming to connect with voters in an increasingly diverse American population, especially as younger demographics shift away from traditional social media platforms.
Their first post featured the president answering questions about the Super Bowl, with a nod to a recent conspiracy theory involving Taylor Swift.
- Rai-Owned Sukari Industry Resumes Operations After Workers End Strike
- Super Bowl 2024: Kansas City Chiefs Defend NFL Title After Beating San Francisco 49ers In Overtime
Both the FBI and the Federal Communications Commission have raised concerns that TikTok’s owner, ByteDance, might share user data—including browsing history, location, and biometric details—with China’s government.
In response, Biden prohibited the use of TikTok on federal devices in 2022, with exceptions for specific purposes like law enforcement and national security.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States has been scrutinizing the app for years due to its potential risks.
Campaign officials assured that they are implementing stringent security measures to safeguard data, but specifics were not disclosed.
It’s unclear whether these measures are primarily aimed at protecting campaign data or the privacy of users.
Chinese law mandates companies to provide relevant personal data to the government for national security reasons since 2017.
While there’s no proof that TikTok has complied, concerns persist due to the extensive user data it collects, similar to other social media platforms.
The BidenHQ account on TikTok promises regular updates, joining the campaign’s existing presence on platforms like Meta’s Threads, Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Truth Social, which is supported by Republican figure Donald Trump.
The campaign focuses on social media engagement and smaller events featuring the president to engage with target voters who may not follow traditional news outlets.
Additionally, they are actively collaborating with social media influencers to amplify Biden’s message.