TikTok has dismissed claims that China is considering selling the app's U.S. operations to Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) to avoid a nationwide ban.
The speculation follows a Bloomberg report citing anonymous sources suggesting the move as a potential solution to U.S. government security concerns.
The report claimed Chinese officials were evaluating a scenario where Musk’s X could acquire TikTok’s U.S. business, merging the operations of the two social media giants.
However, TikTok spokesperson Michael Hughes told The Verge that they “can’t be expected to comment on pure fiction.”
Meanwhile, netizens have already given their two cents about the unconfirmed report of X possibly buying TikTok.
The TikTok ban is set to be enforced on January 19 unless ByteDance, its Beijing-based parent company, divests its stake in the country.
The law, known as the "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act," prohibits hosting or distributing TikTok on U.S. platforms unless ownership changes hands to a non-adversary country.
TikTok and ByteDance have argued that the law infringes on the First Amendment rights of its 170 million U.S. users.
@tiktoknewsroom Response to TikTok Ban Bill
♬ original sound - TikTok Newsroom
On December 9, the social video platform filed an emergency injunction in an effort to stop the ban from being enforced.
The Supreme Court heard the company's appeal on January 10, with justices appearing more sympathetic to the government’s national security concerns. No decision has been announced as of yet.
President-elect Donald Trump also requested the Court to delay the TikTok ban as he looks for a possible "political" alternative.
This highlights just how important the platform has become for businesses, with marketers and creators now bracing for the impact if the ban goes through.
If imposed, the ban will also impact businesses that rely on TikTok for social media marketing, disrupting a key platform for reaching younger audiences.
TikTok’s Future Remains Uncertain
While ByteDance has not signaled any intention to sell its stake, Chinese authorities previously stated they would block such a move, labeling it a technology export.
Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers continue to raise alarms about the potential national security risk as TikTok can collect user data or serve as a propaganda tool under the Chinese Communist Party’s influence.
As the legal battle unfolds, TikTok’s fate in the U.S. remains uncertain. The Supreme Court’s decision will determine whether the app continues to operate or faces an imminent shutdown.
Meanwhile, TikTok’s internal structure is shifting, with the head of North America stepping down as the potential U.S. ban looms.
