With the April 5 deadline looming for TikTok to secure a buyer or risk being banned in its largest market, the options available for the popular video app have expanded significantly.
Amazon.com has emerged as the latest major player to express interest in acquiring TikTok, submitting a proposal to the White House for a business once valued at approximately $60 billion (around Rs. 5,13,272 crore). Additionally, AppLovin, a lesser-known entity, is reportedly seeking support for its own acquisition bid, adding to the diverse roster of potential bidders for the ByteDance-owned platform, which sits at the center of US-China friction.
From social media influencers to tech moguls and wealthy investors, TikTok’s potential buyers are eager to acquire a stake in a Chinese-owned sensation that has eclipsed Facebook as a favored social media platform among American teenagers. The app’s ascendancy has incited concern in Washington, prompting a legal push aimed at addressing fears over user privacy and influence over public opinion. This urgency led to the upcoming sell-or-ban deadline.
China, which previously referred to the forced divestment as an “open robbery,” has largely maintained a reserved stance on the matter but appears willing to consider a deal that would retain Chinese ownership of TikTok, provided it does not include the transfer of critical algorithms that underpin its video recommendation system, according to Bloomberg News.
President Trump was expected to convene with key administration officials on Wednesday to review various proposals, including one involving a partnership with Oracle Corp. and Blackstone Inc., as well as potentially other investors, as reported by Bloomberg.
Amazon reportedly detailed its offer to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, although sources indicate that the administration is not taking the proposal seriously. The company has opted not to provide any comments on the matter.
Even if Amazon’s bid does not gain traction within the White House, its interest may encourage other contenders to increase their offers, potentially driving the final price higher. Additionally, participation in the negotiations could provide Amazon with insights into TikTok’s financial status, particularly concerning TikTok Shop, which is emerging as a competitor to Amazon’s e-commerce business.
Amazon joins a variety of bidders, including a consortium led by billionaire Frank McCourt and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, an initiative spearheaded by tech entrepreneur Jesse Tinsley alongside YouTube personality MrBeast, and a merger proposition from San Francisco-based Perplexity AI.
Furthermore, a bid from AppLovin has also surfaced, with shares of the company experiencing a boost of as much as six percent following the announcement. However, a spokesperson from AppLovin did not respond to requests for comment.
Trump has stated that he is open to extending the deadline if necessary. A bipartisan group of lawmakers passed legislation last year, signed by former President Joe Biden, to address concerns regarding potential data collection by the Chinese government on U.S. citizens.
This deadline has already been postponed once from its original January 19 date. Even if Trump approves a proposal, it will still require the approval of TikTok’s parent company and the Chinese government. Details about any involvement from ByteDance and Chinese officials in the negotiations are still unclear.
McCourt confirmed on Wednesday that his bid to acquire TikTok remains active, although he expressed skepticism that any deal would reach completion before the April 5 deadline.
“I personally think that’s highly unlikely, but we’ll have more clarity this afternoon or certainly by the 5th,” McCourt suggested during an interview on Bloomberg Television.
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(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
