In a recent development, the Senate has passed legislation that could potentially force TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to sell the popular social media platform. The legislation comes with the threat of a ban if the sale does not occur within a year. This move raises concerns about national security due to TikTok's Chinese ownership.

Notably, President Joe Biden's campaign has actively embraced TikTok, using the platform to connect with younger voters and work with influencers. However, this stance has faced criticism from some avid TikTok users, accusing the administration of hypocrisy. Kahlil Greene, known as the "Gen Z Historian," highlighted the contradiction between supporting a TikTok ban while utilizing the platform for campaign purposes.

Despite the criticism, the Biden campaign defends its approach, stressing the importance of reaching voters through various platforms and channels in a fragmented media landscape. Rob Flaherty, deputy manager of Biden's reelection campaign, emphasized their strategy of engaging with TikTok influencers during the 2020 election and acknowledged the platform's growing influence as a search engine and driver of narratives about the president.

While critics argue that TikTok's Chinese ownership poses a national security risk and allows Beijing to influence the narratives seen by Americans, the U.S. government has not presented any evidence of manipulation or forced actions by ByteDance. However, concerns remain about potential access to U.S. user data.

Former President Donald Trump had initially sought to ban TikTok through an executive order, but Biden's latest legislation now mirrors Trump's intention. ByteDance has already voiced objections, arguing that the law violates the First Amendment and pledging to take legal action.

It is worth noting that the Biden administration had banned TikTok on most government devices in December 2022. Nevertheless, the Biden campaign joined TikTok during this year's Super Bowl, prioritizing the platform over a traditional gameday TV interview to convey a political message.

Throughout Biden's tenure, there have been numerous interactions between the White House and TikTok influencers, such as virtual briefings and influencer parties. These efforts aimed to resonate with a younger audience and amplify the president's message.

Finally, it is important to highlight that TikTok has a massive user base in the United States, with approximately 170 million users. Additionally, a study by the Pew Research Center revealed that about a third of U.S. adults under 30 regularly rely on TikTok for news consumption, whereas only 14% of all adults do so.

As the legislation progresses and TikTok's fate remains uncertain, the debate on national security concerns versus the platform's influence on younger demographics continues to unfold. The impact of the legislation and its potential repercussions on the social media landscape and political campaigns will undoubtedly be closely watched and analyzed.