The new account launch comes at a time when the future of TikTok in the US is uncertain, as legislation passed by the US Congress last year remains unfulfilled.
As the uncertainty looms over TikTok’s presence in the United States, the White House has taken the initiative to create a TikTok account amid the ongoing deliberations regarding the Chinese-owned social media platform’s fate.
The White House account’s debut post featured a 27-second video with President Donald Trump’s voiceover stating: “Every day I wake up determined to deliver a better life for the People all across this nation. I am your voice.”
The account’s description read: “Welcome to the Golden Age of America”.
TikTok, owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance, boasts approximately 170 million users in the United States and enjoys significant popularity, especially among younger audiences.
Despite calls to action, Trump has continued to postpone the implementation of a “sell or ban” law which was originally set to take effect in 2024. This law mandates that TikTok either divest to non-Chinese owners or face a ban within the US – with three subsequent 90-day extensions granted thus far.
A strong bipartisan stance is evident with the US House of Representatives voting 352 to 65 in favor of the “sell or ban” legislation aimed at addressing national security concerns associated with TikTok’s Chinese origins.
The current extension effectively delaying the ban is scheduled to end in early September.
“My Administration has been working very hard on a Deal to SAVE TIKTOK, and we have made tremendous progress,” Trump posted on Truth Social, a platform he owns.
Notwithstanding the overwhelming support for the legislation, few representatives scrutinized the bill’s focus on TikTok specifically, with then-Democratic representative Barbara Lee questioning why a single company was being targeted without broader steps to address the potential threats posed by social media companies.
“Rather than target one company in a rushed and secretive process, Congress should pass comprehensive data privacy protections and do a better job of informing the public of the threats these companies may pose to national security,” Lee had posted on social media platform X.
Despite intense debates, both Republican and Democratic lawmakers continue to use TikTok for campaigning and governmental communications, highlighting the platform’s integral role in political discourse.
In a broader context, both Democratic and Republican hopefuls utilized TikTok as a tool to reach constituents during the 2024 Presidential election cycle.
On Tuesday, Minnesota became the latest US state to sue TikTok over allegations that the platform exploits young people with addictive algorithms that can lead to compulsive video consumption.
Minnesota is not alone; numerous US states are pursuing litigation against Meta Platforms for alleged features in Instagram and Facebook that could contribute to addiction. Other platforms like Snapchat and Roblox are also under scrutiny for their potential impact on children.
