TikTok is again at the center of political drama, as President Trump announces fresh tariff talks with China, leaving the app’s future in the U.S. hanging in the balance. The renewed trade talks could stir up more scrutiny on Chinese-owned apps like TikTok, which has long been caught in geopolitical tensions.
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For context, ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has faced ongoing scrutiny in the U.S. over data privacy issues. After taking office, Trump paused a temporary TikTok ban and has since pushed for a U.S. sale to address security concerns and keep the app accessible to Americans.
TikTok Caught in Crossfire
Talking to reporters, Trump confirmed that he has a deal for TikTok, but it will be on hold until the situation is resolved. Before this, Trump repeatedly pushed back the legal deadline to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations.
Earlier this month, Trump announced a 75-day delay in enforcing the TikTok sale-or-ban law. This came after his tariff announcement disrupted a planned deal to shift TikTok’s U.S. operations to American ownership.
Battle for TikTok US
The battle for TikTok’s U.S. operations has sparked interest from several major players. While there hasn’t been an official announcement about who might buy TikTok, reports suggest that big tech companies and investment firms are among the top contenders.
Earlier this month, Amazon (AMZN) reportedly bid for TikTok, joining other major hopefuls like a group led by OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely and mobile tech company AppLovin (APP).
Top US Social Media Stocks to Watch in 2025
TikTok faces competition from several major players in the social media space, including Meta Platforms (META), Alphabet’s (GOOGL) YouTube, Pinterest (PINS) Reddit (RDDT), and Snap (SNAP). Analysts pointed out that if TikTok faces major disruptions, other big companies could step in and grab a bigger share of the short video market that TikTok currently leads.
Using the TipRanks Stock Comparison Tool, we compared the leading U.S. social media stocks. According to Wall Street’s consensus, Pinterest (with a target price of $42.90) offers the highest upside potential of nearly 70%. Meanwhile, analysts have given Meta Platforms and Pinterest Strong Buy ratings among these stocks.
Investors should consider these stocks as potential opportunities, but it’s crucial to conduct thorough research before making any decisions.
