Business Wars TikTok vs the U.S.A. | Reeling | 2
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Feb 12, 2025 TikTok faces mounting pressure from the U.S. government, forcing a potential sale to survive. The fallout from President Trump's executive order brings challenges while a new administration offers a glimmer of hope. With reports questioning TikTok's honesty on user privacy and competition from Facebook intensifying, the platform's future hangs in the balance. This tumultuous period showcases the intricate dance of geopolitics and corporate survival in the social media landscape.
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Trump's Ultimatum
- In summer 2020, President Trump threatened to ban TikTok unless ByteDance sold it.
- Venture capitalist Doug Leone contacted ByteDance CEO Zhang Yiming to discuss the situation.
TikTok's Rise and Scrutiny
- TikTok's popularity exploded during the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020.
- However, U.S. lawmakers scrutinized it over data privacy and potential Chinese government influence.
Facebook vs. TikTok
- The Trump campaign ran Facebook ads accusing TikTok of spying, leveraging reports about clipboard access.
- This escalated tensions and highlighted the business rivalry, especially with Facebook's upcoming competing feature.