Vice President Kamala Harris has created her own TikTok account, swiftly gaining over one million followers within the first six hours. In her inaugural post on the popular video-sharing platform, Harris acknowledged her growing presence on TikTok’s For You page and decided to engage directly with users.
Harris’s entry into TikTok comes on the heels of President Joe Biden’s campaign rebranding its TikTok account to @KamalaHQ, which has since seen a significant increase in followers. The decision to join TikTok is part of a broader strategy to connect with voters, especially younger demographics, in the lead-up to the presidential election.
“Our goal is to reach voters wherever they are, and TikTok is a critical platform for engagement,” said Rob Flaherty, the deputy campaign manager. “Having the Vice President on TikTok allows her to engage authentically with a key audience.”
Harris’s campaign has embraced her viral popularity, tapping into memes and trends that resonate with younger voters. This approach appears to be paying off, as a recent poll shows Harris with a substantial lead over Donald Trump among voters aged 18 to 34.
Despite the platform’s popularity, TikTok has faced increasing scrutiny in the United States due to concerns over its Chinese ownership. While the Biden administration has expressed security concerns, it does not intend to ban the platform. However, legislation signed by President Biden earlier this year mandates that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, divest its U.S. operations within a year or face a potential ban.
