Joe Biden’s recent TikTok debut has sparked concerns among lawmakers about potential national security implications. Democratic Senator Mark Warner expressed worries about the mixed message sent by the Biden campaign joining TikTok, especially after Biden had signed legislation in 2022 blocking most federal government devices from using the app over homeland security concerns.
Despite these concerns, TikTok remains immensely popular in the US, with 170 million Americans using the app. Given this massive user base, it’s no surprise that a presidential candidate like Biden would want to tap into this demographic as potential voters.
However, Biden’s TikTok account will be managed by his campaign team, not the president himself. This decision has drawn criticism from both left and right-leaning lawmakers who have cited national security grounds.
Despite these concerns, the Biden campaign now has over 57,000 followers on TikTok and has assured that it is taking advanced safety precautions to ensure security while courting young voters who use the app.
The White House has maintained that there are no changes to the national security concerns surrounding TikTok use on government devices and that the policy remains in place. This issue continues to be a topic of discussion as we head further into election season.
