Famous faces fight over TikTok as US ban looms

Time is running out for TikTok in the United States. The platform faces a ban this Sunday, January 19, following the failure of ByteDance’s appeal against a US law targeting the application.

CELEBRES WHO WANT TO BUY TIKTOK

Amid the chaos, major celebrities have come forward, offering to buy the social media giant and save it from closure.

Among the contenders is YouTube star MrBeast, according to Forbes.

The billionaire content creator tweeted on January 14, “Okay fine, I’ll buy TikTok so it doesn’t get banned.”

He later added: “Ironically so many billionaires have contacted me since I tweeted this, let’s see if we can make this happen.” »

MR BEAST, ELON MUSK AND TIKTOK

MrBeast’s estimated net worth is $19 billion (approximately 360 billion rand). This is enough to spark speculation about his ability to make this deal happen.

Tech mogul Elon Musk also entered the rumor mill, according to AP News.

Bloomberg recently reported that Musk could buy TikTok for around 950 billion rand.

Musk, who acquired Twitter (now X) in 2022, has not confirmed these reports.

However, TikTok called the claims “pure fiction”, stating that it would not comment further on the matter.

Rapper Meek Mill also threw his hat into the ring.

MEEK MILL IS AT THE PLATE

On X, he posted: “Sell me TikTok! However, his offer was met with ridicule. Fans questioned his ability to finance the purchase or manage the platform.

“With all due respect, I don’t think you have the mental or financial capacity to handle this,” one user wrote.

The impending ban stems from security concerns.

Outgoing US President Joe Biden approved the legislation last year. He cited concerns that TikTok’s Chinese ownership could enable data collection for the Chinese government.

Similar bans have taken place globally.

COUNTRIES THAT HAVE BANNED TIKTOK

India banned TikTok nationwide in 2020, and Afghanistan and Taiwan followed suit in 2022.

More than 30 U.S. states, Canada and the European Union have banned its use on government devices.

In South Africa, TikTok enjoys great popularity.

It constitutes a creative hub and an essential tool for the promotion of music. A recent report found that most of the 2024 chart-topping singles in the US and UK were linked to TikTok trends.

If the platform is banned, many artists will lose a powerful way to communicate with audiences.

ACCESSIBLE APPLICATION

ByteDance recently denied any plans to sell the platform.

Still, pressure is mounting as U.S. politicians demand tighter control of apps with foreign ties, according to Asia campaign.

As discussions intensify, the question remains: will TikTok survive, or will a famous face step in to save the day?

For now, South Africans can only watch the drama unfold and hope that TikTok remains accessible.

After all, the platform has changed the way we consume music and culture. If it disappears, it will leave a void that is difficult to fill.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT CHINESE OWNERSHIP OF TIKTOK POSE A REAL THREAT TO DATA SECURITY?

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