A group that defends the rights of parents, led by a former official from the Trump administration, is set to release a new advertisement on Friday cautioning about the risks of TikTok before a potential vote in the House regarding the app.
The American Parents Coalition is investing $500,000 in a combination of TV and online advertisements in Washington, D.C., as well as in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Montana, the states where a current Democratic senator is seeking reelection. The specifics of the ad purchase were first shared with The Hill.
The 30-second ad, called “TikTok Nightmare,” described the app’s algorithm as “every parent’s nightmare,” referencing a study that revealed content related to eating disorders and self-harm has amassed billions of views.
“TikTok’s algorithm is every parent’s worst nightmare. The Chinese-owned app pushes content promoting suicide, eating disorders, and other harmful trends,” stated Alleigh Marré, executive director of the American Parents Coalition.
“A platform that is controlled by a foreign adversary and targets our kids is not just a threat to the safety of our children, but our nation as a whole,” added Marré, who served as a national spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services during the Trump administration.
The ad launch comes as House Republican leaders included legislation that could ban TikTok in the U.S. if its China-based owner ByteDance doesn’t divest in a series of bills that would fund Ukraine, Israel and allies in the Indo-Pacific.
The House in March passed a standalone bill that could ban TikTok in a 352-65 vote. President Biden has said he would sign the TikTok legislation if it reaches his desk.
Former President Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee for November’s election, has expressed skepticism about a potential TikTok ban, despite his administration supporting a ban on the app during his first term.
