A new survey from Pew Research shows a decrease in American support for banning TikTok. Only 32% of U.S. adults now favor banning the app, down from 38% last fall and 50% in March 2023. As the deadline approaches for TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app or face a U.S. ban, half of Americans think it’s unlikely that TikTok will be banned.
The drop in support follows President Joe Biden signing a law that could lead to a ban due to concerns over privacy and security with TikTok’s Chinese ownership. Despite this, opinions about TikTok are split along party lines. Some Republicans view TikTok as a threat and support a ban, but support for the ban has fallen in both parties.
Notable public figures, including former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, have used TikTok for various purposes. Trump, who tried to ban the app in 2020, now has an account, as do Biden and Harris.
ByteDance has until January to comply with the divestiture order, with the possibility of extending the deadline if progress is being made. TikTok has also sued to challenge the ban.
This survey, conducted from July 15 to August 4 with 10,658 adults, captures the changing sentiments towards TikTok as the political and legal landscapes evolve.
