Deadline for TikTok in the US approaching
The uncertainty around TikTok on the US market remains but deadline is coming up. One of the first things president Donald Trump did when back in the White House was to give the Chinese owned social media until April 5 to find a buyer to avoid a ban on the US market. A new survey shows that public support for a TikTok ban is falling.
Support for banning TikTok now stands at 34% among US adults. That’s down from 50% in March 2023, according to Pew Research Center.
TikTok is used by 170 million Americans. The background to the law banning TikTok in the US is concern expressed by security people that the Chinese-owned company could collect sensitive data and pass it on to the Chinese authorities.
During his first years as president, Trump wanted TikTok forbidden but has later indicated that he is re-thinking this.
Just a few days before Christmas, Trump asked the Supreme Court to pause the law that had already been signed by president Joe Biden. Trump said he wants time to pursue a “political solution”.
The survey by Pew Research shows that most who support a ban say concerns about data security and the platform’s Chinese ownership are major reasons for their view. Most who oppose think a ban would threaten free speech.
“The share of Americans who perceive TikTok as a national security threat has also dipped – from 59% in 2023 to 49% now”, the Pew says.
“The public is closely divided on whether the US should ban TikTok: 34% of Americans say they would support this, 32% would oppose it and 33% are not sure.”
Pew says that over the longer term, support for a ban has declined considerably. Opposition has also ticked up, from 22% in spring 2023 to 32% now. And sizable shares have said they are unsure in every survey.
Support for a TikTok ban has declined overall in both parties since March 2023, but Republicans remain more likely than Democrats to back the idea (39% vs. 30%). Still, the share of Democrats who support a ban has ticked up slightly since last summer.
Major reasons for support on ban:
- 83% of who support a ban say a major reason is that users’ data security is at risk.
- 75% say a major reason is their concern about TikTok being owned by a Chinese company.
- 54% say a major reason is the amount of inaccurate information on TikTok.
- 46% say a major reason is that people spend too much time on TikTok.
Major reasons oppose a ban:
- 74% who oppose a ban say a major reason is that it would restrict free speech.
- 63% say a major reason is that TikTok provides people with information and entertainment.
- 61% say a major reason is that there isn’t enough evidence to call TikTok a threat to the U.S.
- 48% say a major reason is that it will hurt those who rely on TikTok for income.
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