TikTok's situation in the United States is at a critical point. following pressure from authorities to have the popular short-video app change hands before mid-September. The US Congress has set September 17th as a deadline: if the sale of TikTok to a US-based company is not finalized by then, the platform could be withdrawn from the national market, leaving its more than 170 million users without access.
This measure responds to concerns about national security that the US government has been expressing in recent years. Various sectors of the Executive consider TikTok - owned by ByteDance, whose headquarters are in Beijing - as a possible way for collection of personal data and possible manipulation of content by the Chinese regime. This perception has grown to the point of mobilizing a ultimatum that threatens to change the digital landscape of the United States.
Who wants to buy TikTok and why is it so complicated?
Among the names that have been mentioned as possible buyers is Larry Ellison., founder of Oracle. This company, which already provides cloud storage services for TikTok in the United States, has shown interest in acquiring the platform in the past, in a joint deal with Walmart that ultimately fell through. Ellison is once again among the suitors, with the clock ticking and a community of users hanging on the negotiations.
However, the sale is not easy due to China's stance.The Asian giant's laws prohibit the export of certain technologies developed in the country, including TikTok's algorithm, which is considered a strategic asset. The acquisition of the platform requires a sum that fluctuates between 40.000 and 80.000 billion dollars, in addition to implying control over a tool with the capacity for massive influence due to its number of users.
Differences between TikTok and its Chinese version: simple entertainment or a tool of state?
The version of the social network that operates in China, known as Douyin, differs significantly from the one found in the rest of the world.While TikTok is famous for its dance videos and viral trends, Douyin prioritizes content with educational value and focused on developing skills useful for the country. The recommendation system in the Chinese version is designed to reward educational and training videos., thus seeking to influence the development of new generations.
China protects its citizens from certain Western content. and the production and consumption of materials that contribute to knowledge and training in strategic areas are encouraged. This difference reinforces the Western debate about the use of digital technologies as platforms for influence and social control.
Uncertainty about the digital future and technological sovereignty
The TikTok case reflects the new global challenges surrounding digital sovereignty.The discussion revolves around whether or not a country has the right to veto a global platform for security reasons and to what extent technology should be limited by national borders. Decisions made regarding the app could set a precedent for future technological and trade disputes.
Meanwhile, millions of American users continue to use the app., although with increasing concern about its possible disappearance in the short term. The situation remains open, in a context where data, algorithms, and the control of digital platforms have acquired almost as much weight as territory in global geopolitics.
The US-China standoff over TikTok is on the table. the strategic importance of large technology platforms and its impact on society, politics, and the economy. With the deadline set and negotiations underway, the outcome of this conflict could set the course for the international digital order in the coming years.