BIDEN JOINS TIKTOK AHEAD OF 2024 ELECTION IN PUSH FOR YOUNG VOTERS

Mon 12 February 2024:

The official TikTok account for President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign was launched on Sunday night. This account is notable because most U.S. government-issued devices are now blocked from accessing TikTok.

The “@bidenhq” TikTok account made its debut on Sunday amid Super Bowl 58 in the United States and Lunar New Year celebrations in China.

The first video shared by his campaign carried the caption “lol hey guys” and a bio that declared a commitment to “Grow the economy.”

In his inaugural TikTok post, Biden engaged in a light-hearted exchange with a staffer off-screen. When asked about his preferred team, Biden disclosed his allegiance to the Philadelphia Eagles.

While more than three dozen members of Congress, predominantly Democrats, currently maintain TikTok accounts, the platform faces criticism from Republicans due to its association with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.

One of TikTok’s biggest outside investors is Susquehanna International Group. Billionaire co-founder of the firm, Jeffrey Yass, has donated millions to lawmakers who want to block an outright ban of the app in the states.

Several U.S. lawmakers have accused TikTok, and other social media platforms, of spreading content online that has been harmful to children’s mental health and failing to protect kids online.

Biden campaign advisors told NBC News the TikTok account is part of an effort to meet voters where they are.

The app remains essential to younger people, including of those of voting age in the U.S. According to Pew Research data released in late 2023, about a third of 18-29 year olds in the U.S. said they regularly get news on TikTok, a higher share than ever before.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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