(NewsNation) — A list of possible TikTok buyers has emerged as the Chinese-owned social media app looks to sell before President Donald Trump’s executive order ends.
On Monday, Trump ordered a 75-day delay in the implementation of a ban on TikTok. The popular app went dark Saturday night before returning Sunday.
For some users, it isn’t visible to download on the App Store or Google Play store.
Elon Musk, Frank McCourt, Kevin O’Leary and Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson are all considered potential buyers of the platform, according to NewsNation’s partner, The Hill.
NewsNation media contributor Colby Hall joined “NewsNation Live” to discuss if a deal will be reached with 71 days left in a pause on the ban.
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“I happen to be very skeptical,” Hall said of a possible deal.
“I think something’s gonna have to change, or something’s gonna have to give for a sale to a US company, joint venture, to go through. So, you know, something’s got to give, and I’m not sure it will.”
Hall believes the Chinese-owned algorithm and China’s unwillingness to sell that proprietary information are stumbling blocks.
“What makes it unique is that the algorithm and that basically it tracks every single microsecond that you’re on, who you follow, who you like, who you unfollow,” Hall said. “And I guarantee you, the coders at Meta and at Google, YouTube, they’re trying their best to replicate, [but] they haven’t.
“A lot of these people are throwing their names out there so that we can talk about them in the context of being these sort of moguls, these powerful people,” he added. “I think it’s 50/50 whether or not Tiktok really survives in the U.S.”
