A recent poll reveals that a majority of U.S. voters support a federal ban on the social media app TikTok. This is attributed to growing concerns about national security and data privacy, highlighted by RMG Research’s latest survey.
Conducted on December 18-19, involving 1,000 registered U.S. voters, the survey, led by Scott Rasmussen, found that 54% support a nationwide TikTok ban. The inclination towards this prohibition is notably higher among older demographics. For instance, 69% of those over 65, 60% of 55 to 64-year-olds, and 57% of those aged 45 to 54 favor the ban. Interestingly, the support for the ban decreases in younger age groups, with only 43% of adults under 34 and 38% of those aged 35 to 44 backing this sentiment. [Source]
This poll’s findings come amid a backdrop of increased usage of TikTok among younger Americans for news consumption. The Pew Research Center reported last month that an estimated 32% of U.S. adults aged 18-29 regularly use TikTok for news, a figure that has quadrupled among all U.S. adults in the past three years. [Source]
Further adding to the concerns, TikTok was singled out as a significant threat in the survey, with 51% of respondents viewing it as a “very” or “somewhat serious” threat to the U.S. This perspective aligns with another Pew Research Center poll, which revealed that Americans support a U.S. government ban on TikTok by more than a two-to-one margin.
In the wake of these findings, Kara Frederick from The Heritage Foundation’s Tech Policy Center warns of the potential dangers posed by TikTok, citing “logging keystrokes to laundering pro-Chinese Communist Party narratives” as significant risks. Despite assurances from TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew that the company is not an agent of China, skepticism persists. Brendan Carr, a Federal Communications Commission official, has raised alarms about the app transmitting user biometrics to China and its closely controlled algorithms.
The discussion around TikTok’s influence and potential misuse extends beyond data privacy. A recent Generation Lab survey linked TikTok usage among young adults to an increase in antisemitic beliefs, particularly following the Oct. 7 Hamas invasion of Israel. This has sparked a broader conversation about the role of social media in shaping public opinion and spreading extremist content.
Despite these mounting concerns, TikTok has launched a public relations campaign to challenge these claims. A TikTok spokesperson stated to Axios, “There was a fast-moving, false narrative that the publicly available data simply didn’t support.”
Americans are increasingly concerned about TikTok’s impact on national security and the fabric of American society. With a significant portion of the population advocating for a federal ban, the future of TikTok in the U.S. hangs in a delicate balance.