Donald Trump's decision to join TikTok, the platform he once sought to ban, marks a significant shift in his approach to social media and his campaign strategy. His account, @realdonaldtrump, quickly amassed over 450,000 followers, underscoring his continued influence and the platform's reach. This move is particularly notable given the ongoing legal and political battles surrounding TikTok's ownership and data privacy concerns.
ByteDance, the China-based owner of TikTok, is currently contesting a US law that mandates it to divest from the platform by January next year, or face a ban. The US government, citing national security concerns, has pushed for the end of Chinese ownership of the app, but stops short of calling for a complete ban. TikTok has maintained that it does not share US user data with the Chinese government and has implemented extensive privacy protections.
Trump's previous attempts to ban TikTok during his presidency were thwarted by the courts. He has since reiterated his concerns about the platform being a national security threat, but also acknowledged that banning it could negatively impact young users and inadvertently benefit rival social media giant Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook—a platform Trump has frequently criticized.
Interestingly, President Joe Biden's reelection campaign has also embraced TikTok, joining the app in February. This suggests that both major political figures in the upcoming election recognize the platform's significant influence, particularly among younger voters.
Trump's engagement on TikTok could be seen as an effort to tap into a broader, younger demographic and leverage the platform's viral nature to boost his campaign visibility. This strategic move reflects the evolving landscape of social media in political campaigns and highlights the complexities surrounding TikTok's role in US politics amid ongoing national security debates.