Amidst a campaign stop at a Michigan golf course, President Joe Biden’s friendly putting competition with 13-year-old Hurley “HJ” Coleman IV, captured on video, showcased the president’s comfort with social media platform TikTok. While network cameras remained outside due to rainfall, the Coleman family shared the video on TikTok, complete with Biden successfully sinking a putt and the teen responding in kind, accompanied by the caption, “I had to sink the rebuttal.”
However, Biden’s support for legislation that could ban TikTok in the United States has garnered criticism. Some TikTok users, who rely on the platform for news, have accused the Biden administration of hypocrisy for embracing the platform while simultaneously supporting its potential ban. Kahlil Greene, with over 650,000 followers and known as the “Gen Z Historian,” expressed concern about the administration’s stance, stating, “There’s a core hypocrisy to the Biden administration supporting the TikTok ban while at the same time using TikTok for his campaign purposes.”
Despite criticism, the Biden campaign defends its approach. Rob Flaherty, deputy manager of Biden’s reelection campaign, emphasized the importance of reaching voters where they are, including on TikTok, which has become an influential platform and search engine. He highlighted the campaign’s collaboration with TikTok influencers since 2020, emphasizing the platform’s growing significance for political messaging.
The Biden campaign recognized the fragmented nature of the modern media landscape and the need to engage with potential supporters across various platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. While the campaign produces its own content, it also leverages interactions with everyday users, such as a post featuring a family enjoying fast food during Biden’s visit to North Carolina and Coleman’s putting video.
Opponents of TikTok raise concerns about its ownership by Chinese company ByteDance, arguing that it gives Beijing undue influence over narratives and potential access to user data. China’s national security laws grant the Communist Party broad authority over private businesses, although the U.S. has not publicly presented evidence of manipulation or coercion by the Chinese government. The law signed by Biden requires ByteDance to sell TikTok to a U.S. company within a year or face a ban.
Former President Donald Trump, now the presumptive Republican nominee, initially supported a TikTok ban but has since reversed his stance. The White House does not maintain an official TikTok account, and Biden banned the app on most government devices in 2022. Nonetheless, the Biden campaign officially joined TikTok during the Super Bowl, as the president opted for a political message on the platform instead of a traditional television interview.
A series of virtual briefings and influencer events organized by the White House demonstrate the administration’s engagement with the platform, including a State of the Union watch party and an influencer party at the White House. During a recent $26 million campaign fundraiser, attendees interacted with Biden at an influencer happy hour and an after-party.
A Pew Research Center study found that approximately a third of U.S. adults under 30 regularly obtain news from TikTok, compared to 14% of all adults. According to an AP-NORC poll, adults under 30 are less likely to support a TikTok ban in the United States than adults overall, with nearly half of 18- to 29-year-olds opposed compared to 35% of all U.S. adults. Notably, about 2 in 10 U.S. adults use TikTok at least once daily, including 44% of 18- to 29-year-olds.
Priorities USA, a Democratic super PAC, is investing in TikTok influencers to produce pro-Biden content ahead of the November elections, considering it an extension of traditional organizing and communication efforts. Danielle Butterfield, Priorities USA’s executive director, acknowledged that even if TikTok is banned, most influencers have a presence on other platforms like YouTube and Instagram.
However, Biden’s approval ratings among young voters have declined, with only about one-third of adults under 30 approving of his job performance, a significant drop from when he first took office. Greene, who attended past White House events as an influencer, expressed concern about Biden’s championing of a 1994 crime law and the lack of specific policies for Black Americans. He alleges that the Biden administration has discontinued invitations to more personal events for him while favoring less critical influencers.
Flaherty, the deputy campaign manager, acknowledged payment to influencers for specific instances, such as when their content is used in ads, and the concerns raised by some about the divestment legislation. However, he downplayed its potential impact, stating that young voters will base their decisions on issues rather than solely on TikTok.
Greene disagrees, arguing that frustration with the Biden administration in other areas, combined with the TikTok divestment legislation, may result in political challenges for Biden among young voters. He emphasized the significance of discontent and the amplifying effect of the TikTok situation.
