From Musk To MrBeast: Who Could Take Over TikTok?

If you’ve been anywhere near TikTok lately, your FYP feed has likely been buzzing with chatter about “TikTok Refugees.” This stems from the looming threat of a U.S. ban on TikTok, set to take effect this Sunday 19th January.

With less than a week to go, the future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain. While no final decision has been made, the company’s attempt to challenge the potential ban in the Supreme Court last week didn’t receive a warm reception. If the ban goes ahead, TikTok could face removal from Apple’s and Google’s app stores.

This leaves TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, with a challenging choice: either find a way to stop the ban or consider selling the app to maintain its presence in the U.S. social media space.

However, a sale seems unlikely. ByteDance has consistently resisted the idea, largely due to the importance of TikTok’s algorithm, which is the driving force behind the app’s success. CEO Shou Chew has warned that separating American users from the app’s current infrastructure could effectively “break” TikTok. Additionally, Beijing has strongly indicated it won’t allow a forced sale of the platform.

Despite these hurdles, potential buyers are reportedly lining up, eager to acquire one of the world’s most influential social media platforms. Here’s a look at some of the top contenders: