After years of missed opportunities, Microsoft might finally be on track toward acquiring the social media platform, TikTok – as per recent developments in the United States. This wouldn’t be the first time the tech giant has attempted to buy TikTok though, although the initial attempt was met with a resounding failure.
More on these developments below.
TikTok’s US division might be up for bidding
Speaking to media abroad Air Force One on account of whether Microsoft was looking to acquire the social media giant, the President of the United States, Donald Trump commented:
I would say yes. A lot of interest in TikTok. There’s a great interest in TikTok.
Prior developments in the United States seemingly pointed to a total ban on TikTok, when users were greeted with a message that confirmed the suspension of its activities until further notice.
President Trump recently overturned this decision though, promising to bring back the app to the US audience – with a few caveats. For starters, a 75-day deadline has been offered to parent company ByteDance.
ByteDance is to figure out its next move, that is, to sell off its US operations division to a suitable bidder. Trump also encouraged more bidders to join in on the auction, offering a chance for them to own the company’s operations on US soil – while simultaneously keeping any potential Chinese influence out of the way.
An arms race to acquire TikTok
With TikTok being up for grabs, many players will look into acquiring the social media giant – with Microsoft being one of its potential candidates. Interestingly, Microsoft was reportedly contacted by ByteDance as a potential business partner way back in 2020.
While the deal never went through, it still remains a lucrative prospect for Microsoft, offering them a ton of control and revenue in the process.
Things aren’t finalized just yet though, and it will likely be a few weeks before we see any sort of development take place.
