Apple Has Reportedly Expressed 'Serious Interest' in Purchasing TikTok [Denied]

1200px Tiktok logoApple has expressed interest in purchasing video-sharing social media platform TikTok, according to a newsletter snippet from Axios' Dan Primack:

Multiple sources tell me that Apple has expressed interest, albeit no sources inside of Apple, and that at least one other strategic has expressed interest. Yes, it would be an unusual deal for Apple, given that TikTok is a cross-platform app, and a bigger political headache than Tim Cook may want (both here and in China). But if anyone has the cash on hand...

In a follow-up tweet, Primack described Apple's interest as "serious."

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said that he would shut down TikTok in the United States unless it finds an American buyer by September 15. Trump has also indicated that the U.S. Treasury should receive a "substantial amount of money" from the proposed sale, although there is some confusion as to what he exactly means by those comments.

Earlier this week, Microsoft announced that it is "prepared to continue discussions to explore a purchase of TikTok in the United States."

Update - 7:57 a.m.: Axios has updated its report to note that "an Apple spokesperson tells Axios that there are no discussions about buying TikTok and the company isn't interested."

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tag: TikTok

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Top Rated Comments

McKodiak Avatar
65 months ago
I hope not. Tik Tok is a toxic app and social environment.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
miflgr92 Avatar
65 months ago
I'm past the age range for TikTok so I couldn't care less what happens to it.

Now if Apple could create a social media network that is 1) focused on user privacy 2) good enough to get people to switch from Facebook/Instagram, I'd be the first to sign up.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JosephAW Avatar
65 months ago
Well at least they would push for more privacy than any other. They have a good track record, at least in the US.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cmaier Avatar
65 months ago

IMHO they should not pursue this... Apple does not have social networking in its DNA
Not too long ago they didn’t have phones in their dna. And watches. And app stores.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vidjahgamz Avatar
65 months ago
Let the bidding war begin.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kesennnnn Avatar
65 months ago
Cause that will align so well with Apple’s “Privacy-first” policies lol
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)