Apple lists all apps it removed alongside TikTok in the U.S.
TechCrunchJAN 28
Trump Says Microsoft Considering Buying TikTok
Above: TikTok logo is screened on a mobile phone for illustration photo in Krakow, Poland, on Jan. 25, 2025. Image copyright: Beata Zawrzel/Contributor/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Microsoft's potential acquisition of TikTok could be a masterful strategic move. Given TikTok's massive youth-focused audience, the app's future growth is likely extraordinary. While ByteDance faces regulatory pressure to sell, Microsoft has both the means and the unique position of being relatively unconstrained by antitrust concerns — the match is ideal.
Narrative B
The thought of Microsoft acquiring TikTok raises significant concerns. Under Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella's leadership, the tech giant has flourished by focusing on enterprise software, and a pivot to social media seems oddly misaligned with this strategy. Microsoft's track record with consumer satisfaction is also subpar, and the tech giant has concerning ties to the US government.