As the TikTok ban deadline comes closer, Pew Research Center finds that fewer US adults find the platform a threat to national security. According to a recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center of over 5000 US adults, 49% of the US citizens consider the platform a threat to national security, compared to 59% in March 2023. The study also shows a decline in public support for the TikTok ban, with 34% of US adults supporting the social media platform ban, which was 50% in 2023.
While announcing the findings, the research center stated
‘For the first time, we also asked people what’s behind their view on a potential ban. Most who support one say concerns about data security and the platform’s Chinese ownership are major reasons for their view. Most who oppose think a ban would threaten free speech.’
The study also finds that 33% of US adults are unsure whether to support or oppose the TikTok ban.
Republicans vs Democrats
The two main US parties are sharply divided over the ban. Over 39% of Republicans and 30% of Democrats support banning the social media platform. The study finds that both parties’ support for the ban has declined overall since 2023; however, the ratio of Democrats supporting the ban has slightly increased since last summer.
Non-TikTok Users
Pew Research Center highlights that US citizens who don’t use the social media platform TikTok are more likely to support the ban, with 45% compared to 12% of TikTok users.
Factors for Ban
The survey provided four reasons to the US citizens, highlighting the potential rationale behind their support for the ban. According to the study, national security stands out as the research finds
- 83% of US citizens think TikTok is a data security threat
- 75% of Americans showed their concern over a Chinese owner of the platform
- 54% of Americans think TikTok is a source of misinformation, so it should be banned
- 46% of Americans support the TikTok ban because they think people spend too much time on this platform
Threat to Free Speech
Among many factors for those opposing the ban, a threat to free speech stands out. 74% of US adults say that
a ban on TikTok would threaten the freedom of speech in the US, a freedom very close to US citizens’ hearts.
TikTok Ban
On 19 April 2025, TikTok could be banned in the US over national security concerns. This decision was initially taken by former US President Joe Biden in 2024, imposing a ban on January 19. However, President Donald Trump extended the ban to April 19 to the Chinese owner ByteDance to sell the platform to a non-Chinese. There are speculations that Oracle, Microsoft, and Perplexity AI are showing interest in buying this social media platform.
