Summary

• MrBeast has shown interest in preventing TikTok from being banned in the US, with a group of billionaires discussing potential actions to make this happen.
• The potential sale of TikTok is complicated by ByteDance's reluctance and possible Chinese government intervention, yet discussions continue.
• Concerns about TikTok's data sharing with China led to the ban, but the feasibility of selling the app and a US-based takeover remains uncertain.

MrBeast has expressed a keen interest in saving TikTok from a potential ban in the US, and he's not alone in this endeavor. A group of billionaires has reportedly engaged in discussions with the popular YouTuber about turning this vision into reality. As the deadline for TikTok's ban looms, various stakeholders are exploring options to keep the platform operational in the US.

TikTok's immense popularity has been a double-edged sword, drawing scrutiny from US lawmakers over its data privacy practices. In April 2024, President Biden signed a bill that mandated ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to either cease operations in the US or sell its US business segment. Despite ByteDance's initial reluctance to sell, the urgency of the approaching deadline has sparked renewed conversations about potential solutions.

On January 14, MrBeast tweeted about his interest in purchasing TikTok to prevent its shutdown by the January 19 deadline. While some might have dismissed this as a playful remark, MrBeast's subsequent tweet revealed that multiple billionaires had reached out to him, suggesting that the idea might be more than just a jest. He is now actively exploring the possibility of making this happen.

Could MrBeast Save TikTok?

Theoretically, transferring TikTok's US operations to a US-based entity could alleviate the concerns prompting the ban. The primary issue is the fear that data collected by TikTok could be shared with the Chinese government or used to spread misinformation, including sensitive information from minors, as highlighted by the DOJ. However, the critical question remains: Is TikTok even available for purchase?

Despite ongoing discussions about acquiring the app, ByteDance's lawyer, Noel Francisco, has stated that TikTok is not for sale and that any sale attempts would likely face opposition from the Chinese government. While ByteDance once 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 buy TikTok is intriguing, but it remains uncertain whether ByteDance, and potentially the Chinese government, would agree to such a transaction.