Reddit Co-Founder Alexis Ohanian Joins the Race to Buy TikTok
Big moves are happening in the tech world—Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, has officially stepped into the battle for TikTok’s future in the U.S.. Announced on Monday, Ohanian is aligning himself with a bid to acquire the platform, adding a major voice to the conversation around data privacy, ownership, and digital freedom.
The People’s Bid: A New Vision for TikTok
Ohanian is teaming up with real estate and sports mogul Frank McCourt’s Project Liberty, a movement aimed at reshaping how the internet works. This initiative, called “The People’s Bid for TikTok,” is designed to put control back into users’ hands. Also backing the effort is well-known investor Kevin O’Leary, a familiar face from Shark Tank.
What makes this bid different? It’s crowdfunding-driven, meaning everyday users and small businesses could actually own a stake in the platform’s future. Ohanian sees this as a chance to rethink the internet and move away from traditional corporate control.
“I’ve spent my entire career building tech that puts power back in people’s hands—that’s what got me excited about The People’s Bid,” Ohanian shared in a statement.
“This isn’t just about TikTok—it’s about fundamentally rewiring how the internet works.”
Project Liberty’s Big Plans for TikTok
A key part of this proposal is integrating blockchain technology into TikTok, allowing users to own and control their own data. This shift could change how social media platforms handle privacy and transparency.
Right now, TikTok is still under the microscope in the U.S., despite returning to Apple and Google app stores in February. The platform faces pressure to cut ties with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, due to concerns about data security and potential government influence.
The Clock Is Ticking: Who Will Buy TikTok?
The current U.S. law mandates that TikTok must separate from ByteDance or be banned—and the deadline is fast approaching in early April. While several buyers are stepping up, TikTok itself doesn’t seem overly eager to sell.
Among the contenders:
- Microsoft
- Oracle
- A group featuring YouTube megastar MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson)
Meanwhile, a new player in the AI space, DeepSeek, has been drawing attention, possibly shifting some of the focus away from TikTok.
With time running out, the battle for who controls TikTok’s future in the U.S. is heating up. Will The People’s Bid succeed, or will one of the tech giants take the prize?
One thing’s for sure—this fight is far from over.
