For TikTok, the deadline is even more dire — April 5. It should either divest to an American company or be subject to being shuttered on U.S. soil. The ultimatum appears to have created a big burst of activity among first-time homebuyers. During the final days before the deadline, several more bids have appeared. The government has an intense sense of urgency regarding TikTok’s links to the Chinese government. They rightly view these connections as a critical national security risk.
Several prominent candidates have stepped forward and become publicly known buyers, including Oracle, which already runs TikTok’s data under US jurisdiction. If Oracle gets ownership of the platform, its participation would make a much more seamless transition possible. The list of qualified bidders continues to grow. It is no surprise then that names like Tim Stokely, founder of OnlyFans, have become overnight celebrities. The Sunday Times went so far as to name him the “King of Homemade Porn.”
AppLovin, a tech company focused on app marketing and analytics, has seemingly made a late-stage bid, according to reports. Amazon, keen on entering the fray, recently expressed its interest through a letter to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Frank McCourt, the founder of Project Liberty, is another possible investor, hoping to grab a chunk of TikTok’s future. A third option, involving a consortium of American businesses, is close to U.S. government approval for a bid.
Even with all this speculation in the air and multiple bids, TikTok persists in shooting down the reasoning for the forced sale. The firm has repeatedly defended its business practices against accusations that they represent any security threat to U.S. interests. As Kelsey Chickering, a principal analyst at Forrester Research, articulated, TikTok’s algorithm is key. She likened it to Harry Potter without his wand, adding, “It’s just not as magical.” This underscores the importance of TikTok’s underlying technology and the role it plays in grabbing the attention of potential purchasers.
For one, analysts point out that it virtually impossible for TikTok to get banned after its 2020 shutdown. Chickering noted, “It’s probably unlikely at this point that TikTok goes dark again. Every indication is a continuing agreement or a further extension.” Responses to this sentiment bolster the idea that negotiations are ongoing and that stakeholders are making progress toward an agreement.
This surging interest with TikTok is emblematic of TikTok’s massive, untapped potential of being the most popular and engaging platform on the planet. For the millions of active users across the U.S., making a serious disruption to it would carry severe ramifications for users, advertisers and the financial bottom line of the platform itself.