"Billionaires Contact MrBeast to Buy TikTok"

Summary

• MrBeast has expressed interest in saving TikTok from a potential US ban, and a group of billionaires is reportedly in discussions to make this happen.
• The sale of TikTok is complicated by ByteDance's reluctance and potential Chinese government intervention, but discussions continue.
• Concerns over TikTok's data sharing with China prompted the ban, but the feasibility of the app's sale and a US-based takeover remains uncertain.

MrBeast, the popular YouTuber, has reportedly shown interest in preventing TikTok from being banned in the US. A group of billionaires has been in talks with him about turning this idea into reality. As the deadline for TikTok's potential ban approaches, various stakeholders are exploring options to keep the app operational in the US.

TikTok's immense popularity has not shielded it from scrutiny. Concerns about the app's data sharing with China led to President Biden signing a bill in April 2024, mandating that ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, either shut down its US operations or sell them. Despite ByteDance's initial reluctance to sell, the looming deadline has spurred discussions on potential solutions.

On January 14, MrBeast tweeted about buying TikTok to save it from the impending shutdown on January 19. While some might have taken this as a jest, MrBeast later revealed that multiple billionaires have contacted him about seriously pursuing this venture. Although he did not name the billionaires, MrBeast is now exploring the possibility of making this happen.

Could MrBeast Save TikTok?

In theory, if TikTok's US operations were managed by a US-based entity, the app could potentially continue operating in the country. The primary concern driving the ban is the fear that data collected by TikTok could be shared with the Chinese government or used to spread misinformation, including data from underage users, according to the DOJ. However, the critical question remains whether TikTok is even available for purchase.

Despite numerous discussions about buying the app, ByteDance's lawyer, Noel Francisco, has stated that TikTok is not for sale and that any sale attempts might be blocked by the Chinese government. While ByteDance previously considered selling its stake in TikTok to avoid a ban, their stance appears to have shifted. The idea of MrBeast and a group of billionaires pooling their resources to acquire TikTok is intriguing, but it remains uncertain whether ByteDance and the Chinese government would agree to such a deal.