A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals that a majority of Americans view TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, as a tool for Chinese influence over U.S. public opinion. The survey, which polled 1,022 U.S. adults, found that 58% of respondents believe the Chinese government uses TikTok to influence American views, with Republicans more likely than Democrats to hold this belief. Additionally, 50% of Americans support banning TikTok, while 32% oppose such a ban.
TikTok has invested over $1.5 billion in data security and asserts that it does not share user data with the Chinese government. The company has vowed to challenge any potential ban as a violation of the First Amendment. This comes in the wake of President Joe Biden signing legislation that gives ByteDance 270 days to divest TikTok’s U.S. assets or face a ban. The poll also highlighted that 46% of Americans believe China uses TikTok to spy on Americans, an allegation that Beijing denies.
Despite the controversy, TikTok remains popular in the U.S., with significant usage among younger demographics. The poll indicated that older Americans are more supportive of a ban compared to younger respondents. Interestingly, 60% of Americans think it is inappropriate for political candidates to use TikTok for campaign promotion, although Biden’s re-election campaign is using the platform.
The potential ban on TikTok is part of broader concerns about Chinese influence and data privacy. The poll’s margin of error is approximately 3 percentage points, providing a snapshot of current American sentiment towards the popular app amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.
