TikTok, the booming social media app, turned a soccer within the Republican debate Wednesday night time.
Stuart Varney, one of many moderators, requested Vivek Ramaswamy why he had joined the app whereas assembly with an influencer, noting that TikTok had been “banned on government-issued gadgets due to its ties to the Chinese language authorities.”
Mr. Ramaswamy defended his use of TikTok, saying he was making an attempt to achieve a youthful technology, although he argued that kids beneath 16 shouldn’t be on “addictive” social media.
“I’ve a radical concept for the Republican Occasion: We have to win elections,” he stated. “A part of how we win elections is reaching the subsequent technology of younger Individuals the place they’re.”
Nikki Haley disagreed. Strongly.
“TikTok is among the most harmful social media belongings that we will have,” Ms. Haley stated. “And truthfully, each time I hear you, I really feel somewhat bit dumber for what you say.”
That quip shortly despatched the back-and-forth right into a shouting match, with Ms. Haley repeatedly telling Mr. Ramaswamy, “We will’t belief you.”
TikTok turned a political flashpoint final yr, with each Republicans and Democrats within the Senate arguing for banning the app and nationwide safety specialists expressing “excessive concern” about its operations in the USA given its ties to China.
However the business break that adopted Mr. Ramaswamy’s and Ms. Haley’s argument featured, amongst political spots, an advert for TikTok.
