There is very little time left until January 19, when the short video service TikTok will be blocked in the United States unless ByteDance, which owns it, sells the platform. However, ByteDance is looking at the future in the US with cautious optimism after talks between TikTok CEO Shou Chew and Elon Musk, The Wall Street Journal writes.
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Shu Chu and Tesla CEO have known each other for several years. So even though Musk owns rival social media platform X, Shu sought his views on a range of issues, including potential technology policies for the upcoming Trump administration, and kept ByteDance executives informed of the discussions. At the same time, Musk and Chu did not touch upon specific options for the possible continuation of TikTok in the United States, sources said.
Having donated more than $100 million to Donald Trump’s campaign and campaigned for him, Musk has become an influential figure on the US political board. He sat in on calls between Trump and foreign leaders, appeared regularly at his Mar-a-Lago residence and attended UFC fights with him last weekend. In turn, Trump attended the launch of SpaceX’s Starship rocket last week.
Communication between Musk and Chu could be critical for ByteDance, which needs to take all possible measures within two months to retain TikTok’s US audience of 170 million users. According to a law passed by the US Congress and signed by President Joe Biden, the Chinese company must sell TikTok or it will be blocked in the country. The ban takes effect on January 19, the day before Trump’s inauguration.
Trump tried to ban TikTok during his first term as president, but he opposed the legislation signed by Biden. According to Washington Post sources, Trump will try to fulfill his campaign promise and block the ban on TikTok in the United States. He could also help broker a deal to put TikTok into the hands of a US buyer, although ByteDance has expressed opposition to that development and Beijing is unlikely to approve.