Summary
- MrBeast has expressed interest in preventing TikTok from being banned in the US, and he's been approached by a group of billionaires to explore the possibility.
- The potential sale of TikTok is complicated by ByteDance's reluctance and potential intervention by the Chinese government, but discussions continue.
- The ban on TikTok stems from concerns about data sharing with China, but the feasibility of selling the app and establishing a US-based operation remains uncertain.
MrBeast, the popular YouTuber, has publicly expressed a desire to prevent TikTok from being banned in the United States. Following his initial tweet on January 14, where he casually suggested buying the app to save it from the impending ban, multiple billionaires have reached out to him to discuss turning this idea into reality. While MrBeast did not name the billionaires, he has confirmed that he is now actively exploring ways to make this happen.
The urgency surrounding TikTok's fate in the US stems from a bill signed by President Biden in April 2024, which requires ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to either shut down the app's operations in the US or sell its US business by the January 19 deadline. Despite ByteDance's recent lack of interest in selling, the looming deadline has reignited conversations about potential solutions.
The primary concern fueling the ban is the fear that data collected by TikTok could be shared with the Chinese government, including information from underage users, as alleged by the Department of Justice. However, the feasibility of selling TikTok and transitioning its operations to a US-based entity remains uncertain. ByteDance's lawyer, Noel Francisco, has stated that the app is not for sale and that any sale attempts could be blocked by the Chinese government. Although ByteDance previously considered selling its stake in TikTok to avoid a ban, their stance has shifted.
The idea of MrBeast and a group of billionaires pooling their resources to purchase TikTok is intriguing, but it hinges on ByteDance and possibly the Chinese government agreeing to a deal. As discussions continue, the outcome remains uncertain, leaving the future of TikTok in the US hanging in the balance.
