MrBeast, the world-renowned YouTuber, has given an update after jokingly tweeting that he might buy TikTok to prevent its potential ban in the United States. The ban looms as TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has only days left to sell the app before the U.S. government enforces a shutdown due to national security concerns. ByteDance, however, has called the law demanding the sale “unconstitutional” and has no intention of complying.
Initially appearing to jest, MrBeast tweeted, “Okay fine, I’ll buy TikTok so it doesn’t get banned.” Hours later, he surprised fans by sharing that several billionaires had reached out to him, indicating a real interest in exploring the idea. MrBeast, whose net worth is estimated at $1 billion, didn’t disclose who the interested parties were but noted the possibility of “pulling it off.” Fans responded humorously, speculating about how he might integrate his trademark giveaways into such a monumental acquisition.
If the January 19 deadline passes without a sale, TikTok could be banned, making it inaccessible for new users and outdated for existing ones over time. Many TikTok users have begun migrating to a similar platform called RedNote, which is also gaining attention.
This situation highlights the significant influence MrBeast wields as both a media mogul and a cultural icon, sparking conversations about the potential interplay between private ownership and global social media dynamics.
