TikTok’s future in the United States remains uncertain after President-elect Donald Trump promised to delay a federal ban, giving the app more time to find a non-Chinese company.
TikTok briefly went dark over the weekend before returning on Sunday, with the company thanking Trump, who previously supported a ban, for “providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service provider.”
Rumors have since surfaced on social media that Meta has either already bought or is planning to buy TikTok.
Newsweek reached out to Meta, TikTok and the White House for comment via email outside of regular working hours on Monday.
Why It Matters
A law signed by President Joe Biden last year required TikTok’s parent company, Beijing-based ByteDance, to either divest ownership outside China or cease operations. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law following a challenge from TikTok.
Trump has indicated that he will issue a 90-day extension for TikTok to comply with the law. The law allows such an extension if progress is being made toward securing a U.S. buyer or addressing national security risks.
TikTok is used by millions of Americans, many of whom are all wondering what will happen to their access to the popular app. If Meta were to acquire TikTok, it could strengthen the FTC’s ongoing lawsuit alleging Meta’s monopoly in the social media market.
What to Know
TikTok briefly went dark on Saturday after a deadline to sell its U.S. operations ran out. It came back online after Trump pledged to issue an executive order to extend the deadline.
“I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture. By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to say up. Without U.S. approval, there is no Tik Tok [sic]. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars – maybe trillions,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Several posts on social media speculated that Meta, the Mark Zuckerberg-owned parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has bought TikTok.
In this photo illustration a smartphone screen displays the logo of social media app TikTok on January 15, 2025 in Bath, England. A rumour has spread online that Meta has bought the app.
Anna Barclay/Getty Images
Several posts pointed to the fact that TikTok now gives users the option to sync with their Facebook accounts as evidence of the sale to Meta; however, this feature has existed for some time.
Others noted online that Facebook recently made an official account on TikTok. In fact the account, which has yet to post on the platform dates back to at least 2022.
One Reddit post noted that TikTok has a new feature that resembled one on Facebook and Instagram. On user’s profiles, above their display picture, a thought bubble appears on TikTok asking users to share their thoughts, which is a feature also seen on the Meta-owned platforms.
Others also pointed out that Instagram has recently changed its user profile lay-out to display rectangle images instead of square, like TikTok.
Another Reddit post noted that ads for Instagram were now being seen on TikTok. Newsweek could not independently verify this, but there are several other reasons Instagram could now be placing ads on TikTok, including to direct traffic to their platform in the event of a TikTok ban.
Meta is currently being sued over antitrust monopoly laws by the Federal Trade Commission, which alleges that the company holds monopolistic power in the U.S. social networking market.
If Meta were to acquire TikTok, it could potentially bolster the FTC’s claims by further consolidating Meta’s market dominance.
However, the incoming Trump administration could influence whether the lawsuit is pursued through its choice of FTC appointments.
Trump previously described his pick to chair the commission, Andrew Ferguson, as having a “proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country.”
What People Are Saying
Trump on Truth Social on Sunday: “I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark! I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security.”
TikTok said in a statement on Sunday: “In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive.
“It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States.”
What Happens Next
Trump’s promised 90-day extension will give TikTok more time to finalize a deal with an American buyer, which would secure its future in the U.S.
