Former President Obama is leveraging the power of TikTok to encourage voter registration, partnering with a prominent influencer as part of a wider Democratic effort.
In a move to engage with approximately 30 million potential voters through unconventional platforms, particularly on National Voter Registration Day, Obama collaborated with Carlos Espina, a 25-year-old TikTok influencer and non-profit leader. Axios reported that Obama conducted a series of interviews with Espina for the Chinese-owned social media platform.
Espina boasts a substantial following of 10.5 million users on TikTok and has recently featured appearances from President Biden and Vice President Harris on his account. Recognizing the Democratic Party’s traditional appeal among younger demographics, Obama’s initiative aims to bolster support for Harris by directing TikTok viewers to IWillVote.com. The goal is to motivate them to register to vote and formulate a plan for Election Day.
The Harris-Walz campaign is also strategically targeting young Americans through online voter registration campaigns and on college campuses within key battleground states for National Voter Registration Day, according to Axios. This coordinated effort underscores the importance of youth engagement in the upcoming elections.
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Obama has been actively involved in supporting both the Biden and Harris campaigns. He has previously been called upon to assist in fundraising efforts, appealing to both wealthy donors and grassroots party activists. Furthermore, a segment from Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention, where he used a notable hand gesture while referencing former President Trump’s “crowd sizes,” was incorporated into a recent Harris campaign video. This demonstrates the continued relevance and influence of Obama within the Democratic party.
This voter registration push occurs amidst ongoing legal challenges concerning TikTok in the United States. Just a day prior, TikTok’s legal representatives were in federal court in Washington, D.C., contesting a law that could potentially ban the platform within months. They argued that such a ban would be unconstitutional. Conversely, the Justice Department maintained that TikTok must address national security concerns.
The legal proceedings involved arguments from both sides, including content creators, focusing on the law that mandates TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sever ties by mid-January or risk losing access to one of their largest global markets. The outcome of this legal battle will significantly impact TikTok’s future in the U.S.
TikTok headquarters building in Culver City, California
President Biden signed the measure into law in April, culminating years of debate in Washington regarding the short-form video app. The U.S. government has expressed concerns that TikTok gathers extensive user data, including sensitive information about user preferences, which could be accessible to the Chinese government. This data collection and potential access are at the heart of the national security risks cited by officials.
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Government officials have also cautioned about the potential for manipulation of TikTok’s proprietary algorithm by Chinese authorities. This algorithm, which dictates content visibility to users, could be exploited to subtly shape narratives and influence public opinion in ways that are difficult to detect. This concern adds another layer to the national security debate surrounding TikTok.
Former President Obama speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago
Former President Trump initially raised national security alarms about TikTok in 2020. In March, he cautioned allies that banning TikTok now could disproportionately benefit Meta, the parent company of Facebook, a platform Trump has accused of hindering his 2020 re-election campaign. This perspective highlights the complex political and competitive landscape surrounding social media platforms.
Despite the national security concerns and the ongoing legal battle, the Biden campaign joined TikTok in February, launching with a Super Bowl-themed video. Following the conclusion of Biden’s re-election campaign in July, Vice President Harris also established a TikTok presence, stating, “Thought I would get on here myself.” These actions indicate the Democratic Party’s strategic recognition of TikTok’s reach and influence, even amidst potential risks.
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Trump himself joined TikTok in June, sharing a video of him greeting fans at an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event in Newark, New Jersey. UFC CEO Dana White announced, “the president is now on TikTok,” to which Trump responded, “It’s my honor,” set to the song “American Bad A–” by Kid Rock. This further illustrates the increasing importance of TikTok as a political communication tool across the political spectrum.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
