A recent poll conducted by Quinnipiac University found that a slim majority of Americans are in favor of a House bill that would ban TikTok if the platform is not sold to a company without ties to the Chinese Communist Party. The poll showed that 51% of Americans support the legislation, while 41% support an outright national ban. However, when broken down by age, younger Americans, particularly those aged 18-34, were more likely to oppose the House legislation, with 60% opposing it and only 35% supporting it. The survey included 1,569 U.S. adults and reported a margin of error of 2.5%.
In response to concerns over TikTok’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party, the House of Representatives recently passed legislation requiring TikTok to divest itself of CCP control or face a ban in the U.S. The bill, led by Rep. Mike Gallagher and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, would block TikTok in the U.S. if its parent company, Bytedance, does not divest from it within 165 days of passage. Critics of TikTok have long viewed the app as a national security threat, citing concerns about the Chinese government’s access to sensitive user data. China hawks have also warned that TikTok’s popularity among young Americans could provide a platform for mass influence by the Chinese Communist Party.
Opponents of the bill, including young people and activists, have flooded Congress with calls and messages urging them not to restrict TikTok. Prior to the recent vote, some individuals even threatened suicide, with reports of people calling in to lawmakers’ offices expressing their reliance on TikTok. Despite this opposition, the bill passed through the House with a widely bipartisan 352-65 vote. The bill would require TikTok to be bought by a company from a country that is not a U.S. adversary.
In light of the concerns over TikTok’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party, the debate over the social media app’s future in the U.S. continues. While the recent poll showed majority support for the House bill that would ban TikTok if it is not sold to a company without ties to the CCP, there is also strong opposition, particularly from younger Americans who value access to the platform. As the legislation moves forward and TikTok’s fate hangs in the balance, the controversial app remains a point of contention in the ongoing debate over national security and online influence.
The passage of the House bill regarding TikTok reflects a growing bipartisan concern over the app’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party and the potential national security risks it poses. With calls for TikTok to divest itself of CCP control or face a ban, lawmakers are taking action to address these concerns. Despite opposition from some groups, the bill’s passage demonstrates a unified effort to address the perceived threat of Chinese influence over TikTok and its implications for U.S. national security. The fate of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain as the debate over its ownership and control continues to unfold.
