As the deadline for TikTok to secure a non-Chinese buyer draws near, Amazon has entered the fray with a bid to acquire the popular social media platform. This move comes as TikTok faces a potential ban in the U.S. on April 5 if its parent company, ByteDance, fails to divest its American operations.
TikTok has been at the centre of national security concerns in the U.S. due to its Chinese origins. Lawmakers have expressed deep unease about the potential for user data to be shared with the Chinese government, despite TikTok’s assurances that it would not comply with such requests.
In response, a bipartisan law was passed last year mandating the sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations to alleviate these concerns. The original deadline was set for January 19, but President Trump extended it by 75 days, setting a new deadline of April 5.
Amazon’s interest in acquiring TikTok is not surprising, given the app’s burgeoning role in e-commerce. TikTok has invested heavily in its online marketplace, TikTok Shop, which has become a hub for impulse purchases—a segment of the market that is growing faster than traditional e-commerce channels.
Amazon, having previously attempted to establish its own short-form video service, sees TikTok as a strategic asset that could boost its e-commerce capabilities.
However, Amazon’s bid is not being taken seriously by parties involved in the discussions, primarily due to its timing—arriving just days before the critical deadline. This scepticism suggests that Amazon’s offer may be more of a strategic manoeuvre than a genuine attempt to acquire the platform.
Other contenders, such as AppLovin, have also expressed interest in acquiring TikTok, which highlights the competitive nature of the negotiations. Additionally, there are discussions about bringing in U.S. investors, such as Oracle and Blackstone, as part of a deal that might sidestep a formal sale.
President Trump is expected to meet with senior officials to discuss TikTok’s fate, with a decision potentially announced as early as Wednesday. The outcome could impact U.S.-China relations, as any sale would require approval from the Chinese government.
As the deadline draws near, the future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain, with Amazon’s bid being just one piece of a complex puzzle involving national security, e-commerce, and international diplomacy.