Let's Talk About Tech

As a new administration begins, views on Big Tech tend to fall along partisan lines—with some surprising areas of alignment. FGS’ Insights team canvassed their nationwide insights community of news-attentive Americans, TrendSpotters, for their reactions and sentiments on recent issues and news relating to social media and technology in the days immediately following the inauguration.

• Both sides are frustrated by the TikTok debate, especially those who view it as a political move so Trump can “save” TikTok.

  • Many believe China is spying on Americans and that easy access to our data is a security risk. Some Republicans admit protecting data security overrides their concerns about freedom of speech.

  • Across party lines, two-thirds say the outcome of the TikTok ban is not very or not at all important to them personally. Even a majority of those under 45 say the ban is not important to them (53%).

• Republicans and Democrats are united in support of parental consent for social media platforms, a ban on smartphones in classrooms and support for the H1-B visa program (with guardrails).

  • Parental Consent: Many are worried about online predators, the impact of social media on kids’ mental health, and exposure to too much information that may not be developmentally appropriate.

    • There is also an undercurrent of parental control; many say parents should decide what is best for their children.

  • Smartphone Ban: There is near universal support for a ban, as most see smartphones as distracting and unnecessary for classroom learning.

    • Support is particularly high among Republicans (88%).

  • H1-B Visa Program: About half (51%) somewhat or strongly support highly skilled workers coming to the U.S. on an H1-B visa but want guardrails in place to ensure the program does not hurt American workers.

• Meta’s positions and the attendance of Big Tech CEOs at President Trump’s inauguration are the most polarizing and controversial recent events.

  • Republicans celebrated Meta ending its fact-checking program, saying they found it biased towards left-leaning views.

  • Democrats criticized the move as an attempt to gain favor with President Trump and are worried this change will cause disinformation to spread online.

For more information, please reach out to insights@fgsglobal.com.

In 2025's uncertain landscape, effective deal communications are more complex and consequential than ever. Companies engaging in mergers and acquisitions must increasingly consider and strategically manage a broader array of stakeholders throughout the deal process.

For the third year in a row, FGS Global has ranked #1 “Global M&A PR Firm” in Mergermarket’s league tables for helping organizations navigate these complexities effectively. Our experts offer four key areas that will require thoughtful communications ahead:

1. Cross-Border M&A: The global regulatory environment is increasingly complex, with governments adopting protectionist policies and regulators taking aggressive stances on deal approvals. Government relations have become an essential component of dealmaking. Companies must understand local market nuances and craft targeted messages that resonate with key audiences in those regions.
   

2. Hostile M&A: Unsolicited transactions are on the rise, and decades-long norms have begun to shift. Companies should take a holistic approach by engaging a wide range of stakeholders, from franchisees to labor unions, as any group could influence the deal’s outcome and miscommunication or neglecting key groups can jeopardize a deal.
   

3. Distressed M&A: Distressed transactions – where the target companies are undergoing restructuring – are on the rise in the US and Europe. These deals require managing two distinct media audiences: M&A journalists and debt reporters connected to banks and bondholders. Crafting a unified deal narrative across these groups is critical to avoid leaks and ensure a smooth transaction.
   

4. Activism: Activist campaigns targeting M&A are on the rise, and with a continually strengthening deal environment, sales and spin-offs are expected to be targeted more frequently in 2025. To prevent and defend against activist campaigns, companies should have a clearly defined M&A strategy that can be communicated directly and succinctly.

During his second week in office, President Trump continued to sign executive orders and implement new directives – many of which have broad implications for the tech industry. While the exact scope and scale of these actions remain unclear, our expert colleagues in the tech sector offer their insights on a few key items:

• A key focus has been on freezing federal grants and loans, which would affect multiple tech and innovation-related federal investment programs. Though initial attempts have been temporarily blocked by a court, the administration has indicated it still intends to move forward with the freeze along with other executive actions aimed at curbing federal spending. The legal status of this push will likely be settled in court, meaning these programs and others could remain in limbo for some time.

• Trump also issued new executive orders aimed at establishing American leadership in AI and digital financial technology. While details are sparse, these orders suggest a focus on innovation rather than stringent regulation. That being said, he is reportedly considering tightening export controls on sales of Nvidia’s H20 chips to China, which had been designed to comply with existing Biden-era regulations.

• Other tech and tech-adjacent administrative actions include: revoking President Biden’s Executive Order on AI safety; announcing upward of $500 billion in private sector investment for AI infrastructure; reversing the TikTok ban; and creating a sovereign wealth fund that could be used to buy TikTok;  and many more.