Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has declared his intention to join the race to acquire TikTok’s US operations, with a revolutionary proposal to transition the platform to blockchain technology. This bold move, announced in a recent tweet, would see the popular video-sharing social networking service undergo a radical transformation, leveraging Frequency, a blockchain protocol designed to give users control over their data and content.
Ohanian’s vision for a blockchain-powered TikTok reflects a growing focus on privacy and data security in the digital realm. The ambitious proposal seeks to empower TikTok’s 170 million US users by transforming how they manage their digital presence. As Ohanian highlighted, “Frequency changes how social media could work—users managing their own data,” suggesting a significant shift from the current model where user data is primarily controlled by platform providers.
The move comes amidst mounting pressure on ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to sell its US operations by early April, following a law passed by the Biden administration and extended by President Trump through an executive order. Ohanian’s consortium, which includes “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary, now joins other potential buyers like Microsoft and Oracle in the fierce competition for the coveted asset.
But Ohanian’s vision goes beyond mere acquisition. He envisions a TikTok where creators and their audience interact on-chain, eliminating intermediaries. “Picture TikTok with your audience and work on-chain, no intermediaries,” Ohanian stated, painting a picture of a platform where creators have direct control over their work and interactions.
However, despite the clear enthusiasm and forward-thinking vision of Ohanian’s group, ByteDance has yet to confirm plans to sell, and there is no clear valuation or asset list available. Moreover, the task of transitioning TikTok’s large-scale platform to blockchain infrastructure presents significant technical challenges.
The stakes are high, but the potential rewards – a more secure, user-controlled social media landscape – could set a new standard for digital platforms. As Ohanian’s team prepares to battle it out with tech giants for ownership of TikTok, the world watches in anticipation, waiting to see if this bold, blockchain-powered vision will become a reality. This bid could represent a watershed moment in the ongoing evolution of social media – a shift towards user-centric digital environments where control over data is returned to its rightful owners: the users themselves.
