CiviSocial urges Texas, Virginia to loosen TikTok limits for local governments

CiviSocial is pressing Texas and Virginia to revisit restrictions that block cities and counties from using official TikTok accounts, arguing residents increasingly get information on the platform. The firm says the debate is about local governments reaching the public where they already spend time online, not about TikTok alone.

Why it matters: - CiviSocial says local governments are losing access to millions of residents when state rules bar official TikTok use. - The firm argues the restrictions can limit emergency alerts, public meetings, recruitment, and civic updates that need to reach people quickly. - The issue affects how cities and counties communicate with younger residents and other heavy short-form video users.

What happened: - CiviSocial sent letters on June 30, 2026, to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger. - The firm urged both governors to reconsider statewide restrictions that prevent local governments from maintaining official TikTok accounts. - Founder and CEO Sam Toles said the same message went to a Republican governor and a Democratic governor because local communication needs have changed.

The details: - CiviSocial says cybersecurity concerns still matter, but changes in TikTok governance and U.S. media habits justify a fresh review. - Cross-screen media consumption data aggregated from Nielsen, Comscore, GWI, and the FCC for December 2025 through May 2026 shows Americans under 55 spend 1.48 billion hours per month on TikTok. - CiviSocial says that total is more than Facebook or Instagram individually and more than every broadcast and cable television network combined. - Pew Research reports that 20% of U.S. adults regularly receive news from TikTok. - Pew Research also reports that 43% of adults ages 18–29 regularly get news from TikTok. - The letter to Abbott emphasizes public safety, workforce recruitment, emergency communications, and related local government needs. - The letter to Spanberger focuses on civic participation, younger residents, and broader access to government information. - The Virginia letter notes that Spanberger’s 2025 gubernatorial campaign maintained an active TikTok presence. - The letter argues that if TikTok is an acceptable campaign tool, local governments should also be allowed to use official public accounts to reach Virginians.

Between the lines: - CiviSocial is reframing the debate from platform policy to local control. - The firm is arguing that state rules may be freezing government communications around older platforms while residents keep shifting toward short-form video. - That shift could leave local agencies less effective at reaching the people they serve, especially in urgent or time-sensitive situations.

What's next: - CiviSocial says the full text of both letters is available upon request at sam@civisocial.com. - The firm is pushing for governors and state policymakers to review whether local governments should have more flexibility in choosing where and how they communicate. - The company also points readers to its LinkedIn page and YouTube channel for more information.

The bottom line: - CiviSocial wants Texas and Virginia to decide whether TikTok should be off-limits for local governments, or whether residents are better served when city and county officials can post where the public already is.