Microsoft to Take over TikTok in USA

Microsoft announced discussions to purchase of TikTok in the United States,” following a conversation between its CEO Satya Nadella and President Trump. It’s the first time the company has confirmed reports it was in talks to acquire the video sharing platform.

According to post puplished which explained that two companies have provided notice of their intent to explore a preliminary proposal that would involve a purchase of the TikTok service in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand and would result in Microsoft owning and operating TikTok in these markets.

This new structure would build on the experience TikTok users currently love, while adding world-class security, privacy, and digital safety protections. The operating model for the service would be built to ensure transparency to users as well as appropriate security oversight by governments in these countries.

Also, Microsoft would ensure that all private data of TikTok’s American users is transferred to and remains in the United States. To the extent that any such data is currently stored or backed-up outside the United States, Microsoft would ensure that this data is deleted from servers outside the country after it is transferred.

These discussions are preliminary and there can be no assurance that a transaction which involves Microsoft will proceed. We do not intend to provide further updates until there is a definitive outcome to our discussions.

Later, President Donlad Trump , threatened to ban TikTok in the US. Trump indicated to reporters that he was ready to sign a document to order the TikTok ban, either via an executive order or emergency economic powers.

Noteworthy, TikTok is known as a video-sharing platform. Similar to the now-defunct Vine (R.I.P., you beautiful app), TikTok encourages users to share videos between three and 15 seconds with the most common format being a comedic and cringey lip sync of a popular song.

Millions of seeking their 15 seconds of fame are flocking to TikTok, but many of their parents are only now learning about the express-yourself video app — often to their dismay.

It became the most downloaded on Apple’s App Store in the first half of this year according to market analysis firm Sensor Tower, beating out titans like Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.

The site, owned by China’s ByteDance, boasted 500 million users as of June following its purchase last year of Musical.ly, which greatly expanded its reach in the US.

Analysts say it filled the void left by Vine, which introduced countless numbers of teens to the creative possibilities of ultra short videos but failed to find a sustainable business model.

Microsoft

TikTok offers a way for teens and young people to express their creativity in ridiculously fun (and sometimes, downright stupid) ways.

The downside is, with so many young people on the site and online privacy being an afterthought for many of them, safety can be a bit of an issue. There is, however, a tendency to lean into moral panic for parents when it comes to reportage on TikTok. It’s important to understand the app is no more dangerous than other social media sites.

Parents can help children manage their screen time by selecting how much time they would like their child spend on TikTok (40, 60, 90, 120 minutes per day).