Race for TikTok: AppLovin and Amazon in the Mix
The clock’s ticking, and TikTok’s U.S. future is on the line.
With an April 5 deadline fast approaching, ByteDance is under pressure to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations, or face a nationwide ban.
Among the rumored buyers?
Ad Tech titan AppLovin, reportedly deep in negotiations, and Amazon, whose all-in bid hasn’t gained much traction with ByteDance.
The original January ban was delayed after President Trump returned to office, allowing more time for a sale. But the clock is almost out. If no deal is struck by Saturday, Trump could extend the deadline again, but there’s no guarantee.
Big Bids, Bigger Stakes
AppLovin’s interest is said to be known at the highest levels of the Trump administration. Meanwhile, Amazon’s offer—rumored to be for all of TikTok—has been viewed with skepticism. Still, both tech giants represent the growing U.S. appetite to control the wildly popular app.
TikTok’s Chinese ties continue to fuel national security concerns. The urgency has even impacted gaming companies like Second Dinner and Moonton, both linked to ByteDance.
With “tremendous interest” and “a lot of potential buyers,” as Trump put it, the next few days could decide the fate of one of the world’s most influential social platforms.
Why The Big Players Want TikTok
1. Unmatched Audience Reach
TikTok has over 150M U.S. users, a goldmine of attention, data, and ad dollars. Any company that owns it gains instant access to Gen Z and millennial eyeballs.
2. Advertising Powerhouse
TikTok isn’t just entertainment—it’s a digital marketing machine. Owning it would let AppLovin or Amazon supercharge their ad networks and dominate mobile ad spend.
3. Strategic Leverage
For AppLovin, it’s a massive leap beyond gaming into global influence. For Amazon, it’s a direct play into social commerce—imagine TikTok videos seamlessly driving Amazon sales.
4. National Security Pressure
The U.S. government has demanded that ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent, sell its American operations or face a ban. That means the buyer doesn’t just gain a business—it rescues it. That’s power.
Source: CNBC
