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Is TikTok Really Getting Banned on April 5? Why Its Future Remains Uncertain (and the YouTuber Who Wants to Buy It).zin

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The Future of TikTok: Will It Be Banned on April 5, and Who Might Buy It?

Participants hold signs in support of TikTok outside the U.S. Capitol Building on March 13, 2024 in Washington, DC.

By Emily Blackwood | Published on March 15, 2025, 07:30 AM EDT

The fate of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain.

Just hours after taking office on Jan. 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order delaying the ban on TikTok by 75 days, setting the new deadline for April 5.

Trump previously attempted to ban the app in 2020, but his executive order was blocked in court. Under President Joe Biden, Congress revisited the issue, passing a bill that required ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, to sell its U.S. operations to an American owner due to national security concerns. Biden signed the bill into law in April 2024, and despite ByteDance’s legal challenges, the Supreme Court upheld the decision.

As the deadline approaches, many American users are wondering what will happen next.

Will TikTok Be Banned on April 5?

Whether TikTok will remain available in the U.S. depends on whether ByteDance finds a buyer. However, Trump hinted on March 6 that he might extend the deadline again, telling reporters, “We have a lot of interest in TikTok… So hopefully China will approve of the deal,” per Forbes.

According to the law, Trump can grant a 90-day extension if ByteDance demonstrates a good-faith effort to sell, NBC reported.

Who Wants to Buy TikTok?

While the identities of all potential buyers remain unclear, several high-profile figures and groups have expressed interest in acquiring the platform.

  • Alexis Ohanian, Reddit co-founder and husband of Serena Williams, is part of The People’s Bid for TikTok, a consortium led by billionaire Frank McCourt. The group aims to integrate blockchain technology to give users more control over their data, per AP. Ohanian even suggested renaming the app TikTok: Freedom Edition.
  • Kevin O’Leary, the Shark Tank investor known as “Mr. Wonderful,” joined McCourt’s consortium in January 2025.
  • MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), the YouTube megastar, publicly declared his interest in purchasing TikTok to prevent the ban. His lawyer later confirmed to CNN that he was serious about the bid.

How Much Longer Will TikTok Be Available?

For now, TikTok remains active, but its future in the U.S. depends on whether ByteDance finalizes a sale or if Trump grants another extension. With multiple high-profile bidders and ongoing negotiations, the app’s fate is still up in the air.