Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden share little in common—apart from a very public disdain for one another. However, it now appears that the two men have yet both reversed course on the Chinese-owned social video-sharing app TikTok.
In 2020, Mr. Trump also attempted to block the use of the app and signed a presidential executive order that called for it to be banned for its links to China, only for that order to be blocked by U.S. courts. Despite his failed effort to see TikTok banned, Trump joined the platform on Saturday and quickly amassed more than 3.6 million followers—more than times that of Biden's 340,000 followers.
"TikTok is very popular, especially in the youth segment," explained technology industry analyst and social media pundit Roger Entner of Recon Analytics."It's a great way for the former president to reach an audience that last election overwhelmingly voted for President Biden and is now potentially in play."
"Biden, who actually signed the divest or ban legislation, is also on TikTok," noted social media analyst Greg Sterling, co-founder of Near Media."It speaks to the platform's almost unique ability to reach younger audiences, although older people are increasingly there."With the election likely to be decided by the narrowest margins, reaching every voter will be crucial this cycle.