As the deadline for TikTok’s sale rapidly approaches, more bidders are stepping up to the plate. Amazon, along with a consortium led by Tim Stokely, founder of OnlyFans, have thrown its hat into the ring for a chance to acquire the popular short video app. The deadline for TikTok to find a non-Chinese buyer is April 5, or the platform risks being banned in the U.S.

Growing Concerns Over Security

U.S. officials have raised concerns about TikTok’s connections to China, particularly its ownership by ByteDance. These worries stem from the potential of the Chinese government leveraging the app to conduct influence operations or collect data on American users. ByteDance has consistently denied any security risks, and the Trump administration is expected to meet this week to discuss possible solutions.

Last-Minute Bids and Amazon’s Push

Tim Stokely’s startup, Zoop, has partnered with a cryptocurrency foundation to submit a late-stage bid for TikTok. Meanwhile, Amazon has sent a letter to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick expressing interest in acquiring the app, although it has declined to comment on the matter. TikTok and ByteDance have yet to respond to requests for comment. Following the announcement of Amazon’s bid, the company’s stock rose by about 2%.

Amazon has long shown an interest in social media, with previous investments including the purchase of Twitch, a live-streaming video platform for nearly $1 billion in 2014 and Goodreads, a book review website, in 2013. In addition, Amazon tested its own TikTok-style short video platform called Inspire earlier this year, which it later shut down.

Strategic Moves by Other Bidders

President Trump said last month that his administration was negotiating the sale of TikTok with four identified groups whose names are still under wraps. The private equity outfit Blackstone is weighing joining forces with other non-Chinese shareholders of ByteDance, including Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic, to finance a bid for TikTok’s U.S. arm.

Meanwhile, Andréessen Horowitz is working on a possible deal to buy out the Chinese investors of TikTok.The bid, led by Oracle and other American investors, aims to carve TikTok out of ByteDance and make it an independent entity.

White House Talks: U.S. Based TikTok

The White House is reportedly in discussions to create a U.S.-based entity for TikTok, ensuring that Chinese ownership drops below the 20% threshold mandated by U.S. law. This proposal could pave the way for TikTok to remain operational in the U.S., but only under new ownership structures.

Market Reaction and the Future of TikTok

Despite Amazon’s involvement, sources claim that many parties engaged in the talks are not taking Amazon’s bid seriously. This skepticism, however, hasn’t stopped the company’s stock from rising by 2% in the wake of the announcement.

The future of TikTok has remained uncertain since the 2024 law, passed with strong bipartisan support, required ByteDance to sell the app by January 19. TikTok’s ownership by ByteDance has been the subject of intense scrutiny, with U.S. officials arguing that the Chinese government could use the app to influence American audiences and gather data on U.S. citizens.

As the April 5 deadline approaches, the TikTok sale remains a highly anticipated event. The outcome could reshape the future of social media in the U.S. and determine whether the platform can continue to operate amid growing geopolitical tensions.