If ByteDance is forced to sell TikTok to another company, there are places worse than Microsoft where a media platform could wind up (like Verizon). That being said, the maker of Microsoft Office is not an obvious candidate to acquire a social video app popular with high schoolers.
Microsoft’s unexpected emergence as TikTok’s potential next parent company has raised eyebrows since news broke on July 31 that Microsoft was exploring an acquisition of TikTok from ByteDance, which is being compelled by the Trump administration to sell the app to an American company or give up TikTok’s ability to operate in the U.S. Microsoft has confirmed the acquisition talks and given itself until Sept. 15 to complete a deal. But the company has not explained why it is interested in buying TikTok or what it would do with the platform.
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