Despite explicitly banning political advertisements on their platform since 2019, the Chinese-owned media giant TikTok still shows alleged paid political ads, including several linked to Democrat activist groups. Recent findings indicate that this prohibition has not entirely prevented the circulation of paid political messages.
At least 52 videos labeled with “Paid Partnership,” #ad, or #sponsored, some receiving significant views, have appeared to contravene TikTok’s policy. Some videos appear to be sponsored by the Democratic activist groups ActBlue, TogetherSF Action, and NextGen America. These videos promote issues like climate change and voter registration.
TikTok has reiterated its stance against political ads, stating that it disallows political content through all monetization channels, including paid advertisements, branded political content, and other promotional avenues. TikTok claims it adheres to a stringent no-political-ads policy, unlike other tech giants such as Facebook, Instagram, X, and Google.
Owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), TikTok faces additional scrutiny over national security concerns. U.S. lawmakers have been particularly vigilant due to worries about potential foreign influence via the platform, which is currently contesting a possible ban in court unless sold to a U.S.-approved entity.
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) noted the absence of specific regulations regarding social media influencer activities.
According to the Pew Research Center, TikTok has become a key news source for young American adults. The Center notes that 39 percent of adults aged 18 to 29 use the platform for news. While the Biden–Harris regime has sought to curry favor with influencers on ToikTok over the years, including inviting some to film short videos at the White House, the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has turned some against the regime.
