Teens Rejoice: New Plan Emerges to Keep TikTok App Alive in the United States

Every month it seems that there is a new “must have” app for the younger generations here in America.  Instagram, Vine, Snapchat…the list goes on and on.

The latest video sharing app to take the crown was TikTok, where mostly young people would share short videos that they made themselves, using filters, facial recognition, added effects, music and more.  Much like the YouTube and Vine celebrities before them, TikTok had even produced a few instances of fame as well.

But there was a dark side to TikTok, as the Chinese developers responsible for unleashing the app on the world were constantly and consistently accused of using the program to spy on American teens.  This led to series of threats by President Trump to ban the social-sharing app in the US.

Now, however, a new plan has emerged that could keep TikTok alive in America while also preventing the often-hostile Chinese government from getting their hands on the data.

Microsoft on Sunday confirmed that it has held talks with Chinese technology company ByteDance to acquire its trendy social app TikTok in the U.S. Microsoft said in a statement that it will keep working with the U.S. government on a deal and that it intends to conclude talks by September 15.

If it were to complete the deal, Microsoft could simultaneously resolve a recent controversy in Washington and gain power in consumer technology.

The statement comes two days after media outlets including CNBC reported that Microsoft was interested in acquiring the app, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance. Soon after the reports emerged, President Trump said that he opposed the idea of Microsoft buying TikTok and that he would move to ban the app in the U.S.

The two companies have looked at Microsoft buying TikTok in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and Microsoft might offer other American investors to get involved in the acquisition, Microsoft said, adding that its CEO, Satya Nadella, has spoken with Trump. The company did not disclose deal terms.

Unnamed sources have said that ByteDance has been given 45 days to agree to terms with Microsoft before President Trump goes through with his previous threat to ban the app outright.