Reddit Co-Founder Alexis Ohanian Joins TikTok Acquisition Bid as Strategic Adviser
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has joined Frank McCourt's bid to acquire TikTok's U.S. operations as a strategic adviser, bringing his extensive social media expertise to the table.
Alexis Ohanian speaking at podium
Photo Credit: Nrkbeta / CC by 3.0
Ohanian, who co-founded Reddit and later helped revitalize it as executive chair in 2014, brings valuable experience from his investments in successful tech companies like Patreon, OpenSea, and Instacart. McCourt believes Ohanian's understanding of social media's evolution and technical expertise will be crucial for the Project Liberty bid.
The bid comes amid ongoing concerns about TikTok's presence in the United States. McCourt submitted his proposal in early January, following President Biden's initial ban attempt. The situation evolved when President-elect Trump delayed the ban enforcement by 75 days, with Vice President JD Vance overseeing the sale process.
McCourt has provided comprehensive information to the White House about his bid, including:
- Financing details
- Technical approach
- Solutions to national security concerns raised by the FCC and FBI
However, ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, has shown reluctance to engage in sales discussions. The company hasn't:
- Retained a banker
- Defined assets for sale
- Shown willingness to separate U.S. operations
ByteDance's resistance suggests they might prefer shutting down U.S. operations entirely rather than selling them, creating uncertainty about TikTok's future in America.
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