Kevin Lyman hopes that TikTok ban will inspire influencers to politicize
As the Trump administration moves forward with an executive order to ban downloads of TikTok and WeChat, Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman hopes that it will be the incentive needed to get influencers involved with voter campaigns.
Early Friday, the Commerce Department ordered a ban on the distribution of TikTok and WeChat through U.S. app stores. Trump’s executive order, which goes into effect Sunday, will restrict users from downloading the apps onto their phones. Those who have already installed the apps may continue using them without penalty but will not have access to updates.
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Discussions surrounding the TikTok ban started in July when Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the consideration over “security concerns.” The app threatened legal action against the administration in August after Trump signed an executive order banning TikTok and WeChat transactions.
Though the company filed a suit against the government to overturn the order later that month, the administration is unrelenting.
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Users of the app have been quick to express their disapproval of the order on Twitter. Many are calling out the administration as having skewed priorities as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on.
so let me get this straight. we are in the middle of a pandemic that has killed 200k americans,the economy is trash,and there are mass protests against police brutality but trump wants to focus on banning tik tok? #tiktokban pic.twitter.com/7423eG1Ol1
— abbi (@abbipaperbag) September 18, 2020
https://twitter.com/sxcialera/status/1306974758261723138
Others are challenging the ban as a violation of First Amendment rights.
I don’t care much for @tiktok_us but banning it is straight up a violation of our first amendment rights. @Facebook is a far larger threat to Americans… but since Tiktok is from China, it’s gotta go. #makessense #logical #tiktokban
— Gregory Chamberlain (@GregTheSlacker) September 18, 2020
https://twitter.com/Taekmk/status/1306956606140289025
Trump is banning tiktok because we fought against him. This is a violation of our constitutional rights. Keep fighting. #blm #tiktokban #fucktrump #TrumpIsNotWell
— River Winebarger (@RiverWinebarge2) August 1, 2020
However, Lyman has found what appears to be a silver lining to the order.
“We have been trying to get influencers to get involved with get out the vote campaigns, but most of them want to be paid,” he tweets. “Maybe taking away [TikTok] & WeChat will wake them up, to the importance of this election.”
We have been trying to get influencers to get involved with get out the vote campaigns, but most of them want to be paid. Maybe taking away Ticktock & WeChat will wake them up, to the importance of this election.
— Kevin Lyman (@KevinLyman) September 18, 2020
This wouldn’t be the first time that TikTok influencers generated political sway. The app is widely reported to be responsible for the unimpressive turnout at Trump’s Tulsa Rally in June.
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In an effort coordinated through the app, users encouraged people to register for the free event and not show. In the days leading up to the event, Trump tweeted that almost a million people had requested tickets, while the actual turnout was significantly lower than the auditorium’s 19,000 person capacity.
What do you think about the Trump Administration’s ban on TikTok and WeChat? Let us know in the comments below.
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Vote.org (Absentee and early voting rules for each state)
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