A recent poll conducted by Leger revealed that 51 per cent of Canadians support banning the social media app TikTok, following a U.S. bill that aims to do just that. The Canadian government has also initiated a national security review of TikTok in response to the U.S. bill. The poll of 1,605 Canadians conducted in March found that 28 per cent of respondents opposed a ban, with younger Canadians being less supportive of a ban compared to older Canadians. Nearly half of respondents between 18 and 34 reported using TikTok, while only 12 per cent of those over 55 reported using the app.
Christian Bourque, executive vice-president of Leger, noted that older Canadians who do not use TikTok are more likely to support a ban or have concerns about the app. He suggested that messaging from U.S. politicians about the Chinese ownership of TikTok could be influencing opinions in Canada. TikTok is owned by Chinese company ByteDance Ltd., and concerns about data privacy and national security have been raised in the U.S. The bill in question would ban TikTok unless ByteDance sells its stake in the business.
The Canadian national security review of TikTok is not directly related to the U.S. bill and was launched in September without public disclosure. The Canadian government has indicated that TikTok will be subject to enhanced scrutiny under a new policy on foreign investments in the interactive digital media sector. The Leger poll also found that 56 per cent of Canadians are aware of national security concerns surrounding TikTok from various countries, and nearly three-quarters of those respondents expressed concern about the reports.
Despite awareness of security concerns, only 7 per cent of Canadian TikTok users have stopped using the app entirely, while 21 per cent have reduced their usage. Among social media users in Canada, TikTok appears to be less popular than platforms like Facebook and Instagram, which are used by 83 and 58 per cent of those polled, respectively. However, there is a general skepticism among Canadians about data protection on social media platforms, with the majority expressing concerns about their personal data being secure.
Overall, the poll indicates that Canadians have mixed opinions about TikTok, with a significant portion supporting a ban while others continue to use the app despite security concerns. The issue of data protection on social media platforms appears to be a broader concern that goes beyond just TikTok, with many Canadians expressing worries about their personal information being secure. The Canadian government’s decision to conduct a national security review of TikTok reflects the ongoing debate about the app’s ownership and potential risks associated with using it.
