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.
• TikTok's potential sale is complicated by ByteDance's reluctance and possible Chinese government intervention, though talks continue.
• The ban on TikTok stems from concerns about data sharing with China, but the feasibility of the app's sale and a US-based takeover remains uncertain.

MrBeast, a prominent YouTube personality, has voiced his interest in preventing TikTok from being banned in the United States. He has engaged in discussions with a group of billionaires who are exploring ways to make this a reality. With the deadline for TikTok's compliance with the ban approaching, various stakeholders are actively seeking solutions to keep the app operational in the US.

TikTok's immense popularity has not been without controversy. Concerns over the app's data privacy and potential ties to the Chinese government led President Biden to sign a bill in April 2024 that forces ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to either cease operations in the US or divest its US assets. Despite ByteDance's initial reluctance to sell, the looming deadline has spurred renewed discussions about potential solutions.

MrBeast sparked interest with a tweet on January 14, humorously suggesting he might buy TikTok to save it from the ban scheduled for January 19. Initially perceived as a jest, MrBeast followed up with another tweet revealing that several billionaires had reached out to him to seriously explore the possibility. While he did not name these billionaires, MrBeast's interest in pursuing this venture has become more apparent.

Could MrBeast Save TikTok?

Theoretically, if TikTok's US operations were managed by a US-based entity, it could potentially continue to operate in the country. The primary concern driving the ban is the fear that data collected by TikTok, including from minors, could be shared with or misused by the Chinese government. However, the key challenge remains ByteDance's willingness to sell.

Despite ongoing discussions about buying out TikTok, ByteDance's lawyer, Noel Francisco, has stated that the app is not for sale and that any sale attempt might face opposition from the Chinese government. Although ByteDance previously considered selling its stake in TikTok to avoid a ban, their stance has since shifted. The idea of MrBeast and a group of billionaires pooling their resources to purchase TikTok is intriguing, but whether ByteDance and the Chinese government will agree to such a deal remains uncertain.