Former President Obama is set to make appearances on TikTok in a bid to encourage voter registration, according to recent reports. This initiative is part of a broader Democratic strategy aimed at engaging approximately 30 million potential voters through non-traditional channels on National Voter Registration Day.
Obama engaged in a series of interviews with 25-year-old TikTok influencer and non-profit director Carlos Espina for the platform. Espina, who boasts a substantial following of 10.5 million users on TikTok, has previously featured President Biden and Vice President Harris on his account. Leveraging the Democratic Party's historical advantage among young Americans under 30, Obama aims to mobilize TikTok viewers to visit voter registration websites, register, and plan for Election Day.
In parallel efforts, the Harris-Walz campaign is also gearing up to target young Americans through online and campus voter registration initiatives in key battleground states on National Voter Registration Day.
Furthermore, both the Biden and Harris campaigns have sought Obama's assistance in fundraising activities among wealthy donors and grassroots party supporters. Notably, the Harris campaign recently incorporated a segment of Obama's speech from the Democratic National Convention into a campaign video, emphasizing the importance of voter engagement.
These voter registration drives come amidst legal battles between TikTok and the U.S. government over national security concerns. The government has raised alarms about the app's data collection practices and its potential vulnerability to manipulation by Chinese authorities. President Biden signed a law in April requiring TikTok to sever ties with its China-based parent company by mid-January or face potential bans in the U.S.
Former President Trump, who initially flagged national security risks associated with TikTok, has suggested that banning the platform could benefit other social media giants. Both Biden and Harris have engaged with TikTok in various capacities, using the platform to connect with voters and share campaign messages.
As the political landscape continues to evolve in the digital age, the intersection of social media, national security, and voter engagement remains a complex and dynamic arena for public discourse and policy decisions.
