While President Joe Biden’s administration and former U.S. President Donald Trump have both raised concerns about TikTok’s Chinese owners, Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy announced his intention to use the platform to connect with young voters.
What Happened: Ramaswamy has boldly embraced TikTok despite widespread apprehension about the platform’s security and data privacy issues.
On Wednesday, the GOP candidate took to X, formerly Twitter, and stated that he had been convinced to join TikTok after a dinner meeting with YouTube personality and boxer Jake Paul.
Acknowledging the controversy surrounding TikTok, Ramaswamy highlighted the importance of “reaching young voters” who are already active on the platform.
He stressed that while there are concerns about the Chinese government’s access to user data via TikTok, “American” companies like Airbnb also share user data with China.
Responding to a user’s concern about potential privacy risks, Ramaswamy said his strategy is to have a “burner phone with just TikTok on it.”
This move by the Republican presidential hopeful contrasts President Joe Biden’s call for TikTok’s Chinese owners to divest their stake in the app and former President Trump’s efforts to force a sale of TikTok to American companies in 2020.
Why It’s Important: Ramaswamy’s latest approach to connecting with the younger demographic comes after he previously voiced support for raising the minimum voting age to 25, with exceptions for those who complete at least six months of military or first responder service or pass the same citizenship test as naturalized citizens.
Previously, Team Biden’s attempts to reach out to the younger demographic by using social media earned it criticism from “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” author Robert Kiyosaki. He labeled such moves as “Tic Toc Politics.”
Photo by Consolidated News Photos on Shutterstock
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