TikTok gets a stay of execution - but the power play behind it is bigger than content
Briefly

Donald Trump has signed an Executive Order allowing TikTok another 75 days to determine its future in the U.S., emphasizing a desire not to let the app 'go dark.' Critical considerations involve geopolitical dynamics and power structures related to digital economy control. TikTok has transformed into a full-stack commerce engine rather than merely a social media platform. Amazon's potential interest in acquiring TikTok underscores the urgency for brands to dominate the retail landscape, highlighting an intricate interplay between national security concerns and commercial competition amongst major tech players.
"We do not want TikTok to 'go dark,'" he declared - positioning the move as a part of broader trade negotiations with China and a patriotic effort to 'SAVE TIKTOK.'
TikTok isn't just a creator platform anymore. It's a full-stack commerce engine... integrating entertainment and ecommerce into a single stream, transforming the way people buy.
For Amazon, it's not about getting more likes; it's about eliminating friction, owning discovery, and embedding purchase paths directly into content.
While the political narrative focuses on national security and Chinese data control, the commercial one is about platform convergence - and Amazon, Meta, and YouTube are watching very closely.
Read at The Drum
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