Elon Musk Could Buy TikTok’s US Operations Amid Potential Ban
In an interesting twist to TikTok’s ongoing saga in the US, Elon Musk could become the new owner of the social media giant’s American business.
As the deadline for TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, approaches on January 19 to either sell its stake or face a ban, discussions have reportedly heated up with Musk’s involvement.
According to Bloomberg, if ByteDance fails to counter the ban effectively, the Chinese government has prepared contingency plans, which might include selling TikTok’s US operations to Musk-owned X (formerly Twitter).
Despite a preference that TikTok remains under ByteDance’s management, the Chinese officials are apparently considering this drastic step to maintain the app’s presence in the US market.
Musk, known for his interest in AI and technology ventures, could bring a significant boost to X by integrating TikTok’s large US user base, which stands at over 170 million.
The acquisition could potentially benefit his AI project, xAI, given TikTok’s extensive data on user interactions and preferences.
It remains unclear whether Musk is actively participating in these discussions or if ByteDance is fully aware of these possible plans.
Earlier in April, Musk mentioned on X that although a TikTok ban could benefit his business, he would prefer the app to continue its operations in the US.
The possible acquisition of TikTok by Musk would mark a significant shift in the social media landscape, blending the dynamism of short-video content with Musk’s broader ambitions in technology and advertising.
Neither Musk nor ByteDance have made official comments on these developments.