As a ban on TikTok in the United States seems more and more likely, some surprising news surfaces. ByteDance is reportedly considering Elon Musk as a potential buyer of the app's American operations. More details below!
Elon Musk ready to buy TikTok US to avoid ban
For several months now, the TikTok platform has been facing a turmoil in the United States. The Trump administration has indeed expressed concerns about:
- data collection by ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok;
- its links with China.
In response, U.S. lawmakers passed a law requiring that:
- ByteDance sells its US operations,
- the application is banned in the United States.
This situation thus opened the way to a possible acquisition by Elon Musk. According to rumors, the CEO of Twitter could buy TikTok for a sum estimated between 40 and 50 billion dollars.
Certainly, the affair not yet confirmed. However, some sources claim that the Chinese government is considering this option as a solution for avoid an outright ban on TikTok in the United States.
In March 2023, US lawmakers had already warned of the possibility of the app being used to monitor US users. Enough to fuel the pressure on ByteDance. However, Elon Musk himself said that he is against banning TikTok. According to him, this would go against freedom of expression.
TikTok and X merger: a winning strategy for Elon Musk?
The possible merger between X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok could be an innovative strategy on Musk's part. If the acquisition goes through, it would in effect give X immediate access to:
- a large user base,
- diverse video content.
These are two key elements to staying competitive with other giants like Instagram and YouTube.
The TikTok representative called this “pure fiction” rumor. Especially since no official discussion has been confirmed.
The fate of TikTok in the United States therefore remains uncertain. If the ban comes to fruition, the acquisition by Elon Musk could well shake up the social media ecosystem. File to follow…
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