According to The New York Times, TikTok may have found a potential buyer for its U.S. operations—Amazon. The tech giant has reportedly made an offer to acquire the social media platform in the country.
The sale comes in response to a U.S. government mandate requiring TikTok to change ownership if it wants to continue operating in the country. Initially, the deadline was set for January, but President Donald Trump extended it to April 5. If no deal is finalized by then, TikTok faces a potential ban.
As of now, neither Amazon nor TikTok have commented on the reported offer.
Race against the clock
Neither Amazon nor TikTok have officially confirmed the proposal yet. However, Amazon’s potential bid could be a strategic move to shake up the competition and push for a faster resolution.
According to reports, President Donald Trump is set to meet at the White House today (April 2) to discuss the situation. Several U.S. investors are rumored to be involved in a potential deal, including tech giant Oracle and the private equity firm Blackstone. However, the exact terms of the agreement remain unclear.
Amazon’s interest in TikTok may stem from its growing commercial presence on the platform. The company has already partnered with TikTok to sell products, and Forbes reports that Jeff Bezos’ co-founded company became the third-largest advertiser on the short-form video app in 2024.
What happened to TikTok in the US?
A law passed in the U.S. in 2024 required TikTok to be sold in order to continue operating in the country. The platform has been under government scrutiny since 2021, facing allegations of sharing American user data with the Chinese government.
TikTok was briefly blocked in the U.S. in January when the initial deadline expired, but it was quickly reinstated with an extended deadline until April. President Donald Trump has expressed his intention to keep the app available in the country.
In February, TikTok returned to app stores on both Android and iOS, allowing users to download and use the platform once again.
