I mentioned this in our first newsletter, but Rep. Jeff Jackson of North Carolina had to release a full YouTube-style apology video after his TikTok followers found out he voted for this bill. Jackson has only posted on TikTok a few times since the incident.
However, Biden’s relationship with the app doesn’t appear to have really changed, and his campaign intends to continue using the platform to reach voters throughout the election.
“A fragmented media environment requires us to show up and meet voters where they are — and that includes online,” a Biden campaign official told NBC News on Wednesday. “TikTok is one of many places where we ensure our content is seen by voters.”
It’s too early to say exactly which direction the public’s mood is, but many people are not enthusiastic.
“If [Biden] “If he wants to regain the trust of young people that he has repeatedly betrayed, he needs to be open and transparent about the reasons for this ban,” Luke Mullen, an actor, filmmaker and activist, told me on Wednesday. “So far he hasn’t said anything that feels like a denigration of our intelligence. Young Americans are not stupid.”
Beyond the lack of transparency, some creators and activists told me that they believe the ban is a direct response to activism on the platform.
“Regardless of the reason for the ban, the fact that TikTok is being targeted, unlike other social media sites that misuse user data, sends a signal to young people that their speech will be censored,” said Victoria Hammett, deputy Executive Director and Gen Z Program Director for Change, told me on the phone. “Whether or not this is the reason for the ban, this is clearly the message Congress is sending to young people.”
If TikTok were to disappear, many of these creators and activists could lose their platforms.
“I have personally witnessed the power and increased voice that young people have specifically through TikTok, and getting rid of our only space for it would be disturbing to say the least,” Mullen says.
Currently? Biden is posting about it right now.
The chat room
I’ll keep it short this week. How does You What do you think of this TikTok bill? Are you a creative or small business owner looking to reach your fans or customers? Are you part of a campaign or political group rethinking your entire media strategy this year? Or maybe you’re a TikTok user who gets a lot of news on the app – let me know!
With your permission, I would like to include some of your thoughts and stories in next week’s newsletter. Leave a comment on the site or email me at [email protected].
💬 Leave a comment below this article.
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What else we read
🔗 As Meta flees politics, campaigns are turning to new tricks to reach voters: Campaigns across the political spectrum have seen engagement on meta-owned platforms increase over the past year. (The Washington Post)
🔗 Oracle met with Senate staffers about TikTok data retention after the House ban passed: Time is ticking for TikTok, and Oracle is already concerned that a ban on the app could impact its business. (CNBC)
🔗 ‘Thunder Run’: Behind Lawmakers’ Secret Push to Pass TikTok Law: It seemed like the TikTok bill came out of nowhere, but a small group of lawmakers have been quietly working on it for nearly a year. (The New York Times)
The download
I’m afraid it will only be TikTok in the next few weeks. If you’re looking for a good introduction to all the implications of this law, be sure to check out our latest Politics Lab podcast episode. I discuss everything with my editor and show host Leah Feiger and my colleague Vittoria Elliott!
You can listen to the show wherever you download podcasts. Subscribe! If the next few weeks are as chaotic as these, you might miss it.
That’s it for today – thank you again for your subscription. You can contact me via email, Instagram, X and Signal at makenakelly.32.