Those who have been keeping up with social media news will know that access to TikTok in the United States has held somewhat of a question mark in recent months, with President Trump continually extending the deadline upon which the app had to find a US buyer to continue its access across the nation.
It seems, via an announcement at the end of September, that TikTok has indeed found a buyer. But is it a viable lifeline for TikTok users and creators – and what changes could arise under new ownership?
How Reliable Is This Sale?
The truth is that we don’t know a huge amount yet. Obviously, the news of a sale and the resurrection of TikTok is great news for businesses, creators, and even avid users who value their time spent on the app – with countless creators investing both time and money in growing their presence and reach on the platform ever since it rose in social media prominence a number of years ago.
It is believed that the app has been purchased – and thereby saved – by a consortium or joint venture, headed by Oracle as the app’s main security provider and cybersecurity specialist.
However, it remains to be seen whether the sale and its terms are agreed by Chinese officials. More on this as we receive further updates.
What Will New Ownership Mean for TikTok?
If the United States consortium does absorb ownership and control of the TikTok app, what changes should users expect to see?
It seems likely that, with governmental control embedded into TikTok’s new ownership, there could be some changes to the algorithm and to the spread of political content. Trump recently stated that he would make TikTok ‘100% MAGA’ if he could, which sparks concerns especially when you consider how many users are influenced by the app and its approach to news.
Younger users are increasingly turning to TikTok for their news and political understanding, meaning a stark political agenda could increase the bias of users who lean on TikTok for these updates.
Again, the impact of ownership on TikTok’s algorithm and the potential political bias of the platform remains to be seen.
