What year are we living in? Well, it’s 2025, and just when you thought things couldn’t get more interesting, Microsoft is once again in the spotlight for potentially buying TikTok.
If you’re not caught up with the latest drama, here’s a quick recap. Last year, the U.S. Congress enacted a law requiring TikTok, which is based in China, to sell off its business or face a complete shutdown. The bill became law when then-President Joe Biden chose not to veto it. TikTok decided not to comply, which led to the app going dark last Sunday. But it was back online in just a few hours, with a message expressing gratitude to new President Trump for giving them a reprieve.
President Trump has granted TikTok a 90-day window before any further action is taken, though apps on Google Play and Apple’s store remain unavailable due to the standing law. TikTok still faces the tough decision of either shutting down in the U.S. or securing a new owner soon.
NPR reports, via The Verge, that Microsoft is once again angling to acquire TikTok.
Around the world, the short-form video app has faced criticism for its addictive nature, notorious for creating echo chambers and fostering radical ideologies. In the U.S., concerns have been raised about national security risks due to TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, and its ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Officials argue the platform could be used for spreading propaganda or even tracking American citizens. The European Union is also looking into TikTok’s contribution to the rise of extremist groups and the spread of pro-Putin Russian propaganda.
According to reports, a potential solution the White House is exploring involves Oracle taking over TikTok’s global operations while allowing ByteDance to retain a minority share. Microsoft is reportedly part of these discussions, though it’s unclear to what extent they’re involved. All companies involved have remained tight-lipped on the matter.
TikTok has become a massive hit with Gen Alpha and Gen Z audiences. While Facebook and Instagram fall under Meta, YouTube belongs to Google, and Twitch to Amazon, Microsoft’s notable social platform is LinkedIn.
Though LinkedIn is a robust and profitable enterprise, it doesn’t quite capture the cultural zeitgeist like some of its social network counterparts. Imagine if Microsoft owned a platform like TikTok. It could potentially transform Microsoft’s consumer ecosystem, injecting fresh energy into Windows, Surface, and Xbox. Think about the possibilities—integrating TikTok with Xbox or embedding TikTok-inspired editing features into Windows. Of course, similar thoughts surfaced when Microsoft acquired Skype, and we all know how that story unfolded.
Realistically, it seems unlikely that Microsoft will take ownership of TikTok. The link between TikTok and Microsoft predominantly exists within Azure AI, where TikTok uses many AI features. Despite this, Oracle remains TikTok’s primary cloud host. Microsoft’s role might be limited to their Azure AI partnership, if we were to speculate.
But what if? The possibility is intriguing.
