"Suranjana TewariAsia Business Correspondent and Osmond ChiaBusiness reporter Getty Images A much-awaited deal over TikTok may be close, with US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping set to discuss terms on Friday. Top officials from both sides struck a "framework" agreement this week, which reports suggest could see TikTok's US operations sold to a group of American firms. If the deal goes through, it would be what one expert called a "rare breakthrough" in US-China trade negotiations"
"At the heart of the tussle is TikTok's algorithm - the "secret sauce" that recommends content to users based on their preferences and behaviours. It's key because it drives the app's virality and appeal. Other companies have tried to re-create the algorithm - Instagram has Reels, YouTube has Shorts - but they are not as good, a former social media executive who worked for Snap and Viber told the BBC, speaking on the condition of anonymity."
The US President and China's President are set to discuss terms for a deal that follows a framework agreement between top officials. The framework could lead to TikTok's US operations being sold to a consortium including Oracle, Andreessen Horowitz and Silver Lake, and to a new US-specific version of the app for 170 million US users. TikTok's recommendation algorithm is the core asset driving virality and appeal. Bytedance refused to sell the algorithm and received Beijing's backing. Chinese state media called the arrangement 'win-win' and the US President said, 'I'd like to do it for the kids'. Many details remain unresolved.
Read at www.bbc.com
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