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Politicians seem to hate TikTok because of alleged security risks. However, these very politicians seem to prefer TikTok, claims a report by Reuters.
TikTok is undoubtedly one of the biggest social media platforms. Hence, it’s no wonder its popularity could be employed and perhaps exploited by politicians. In other words, despite berating TikTok in the parliament, lawmakers find it irresistible simply because the ultra-short video-sharing platform has become a social hub for millions of young voters.
TikTok remains a security concern and may influence elections, politicians fear
American legislators are on the verge of banning TikTok. A bill discussing the TikTok Ban recently passed with bipartisan support. It will now head to the US Senate.
Incidentally, US President Biden has already said he would sign the bill. As a consequence, TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, may be forced to sell TikTok. If ByteDance doesn’t comply, the company’s apps may be banned from the US app stores and web hosting services.
TikTok is facing heat in multiple countries, including the EU, primarily over security and data management practices. Germany’s security agencies recently warned ByteDance could be sharing TikTok data with China’s government.
Additionally, several legislators have claimed that TikTok is so powerful, and its use is so widespread, that it could be used to influence users and voters. Needless to mention, politicians have raised similar concerns about Facebook and Twitter too. But these politicians want to utilize these very platforms.
European politicians prefer TikTok despite security risks
TikTok continues to remain a popular mass-media platform, especially among youngsters. Politicians prefer to use TikTok to gain inroads with the masses. What is concerning is that these very lawmakers have been discussing ways and means to ban, regulate, or limit TikTok.
TikTok is highly popular in the 16 to 25 age group. It has many first-time voters and politicians eager to tap into this promising vote bank. It is important to note that 16-year-olds in Germany can vote in the upcoming June European elections.
Simon Harris, Ireland’s prime minister-in-waiting has been dubbed the “TikTok Taoiseach”. French President Emmanuel Macron has amassed 4 million followers on TikTok. Needless to say, TikTok is a surefire way to reach out to the younger generation.
TikTok’s owner ByteDance continues to deny that its product is used for spying. Similarly, the Chinese government has also denied all allegations. Last year, TikTok launched a site to store European users’ data in Dublin and hired a third-party security firm to monitor data flows to address security and data management concerns.
It is worrying to note that despite security concerns, politicians prefer to use TikTok and continue to do so. It appears their thirst to connect with young voters outweighs any potential risks.
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