Reddit co-founder considers investing in TikTok's U.S. operations

PanARMENIAN.Net - Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian is among the potential buyers of TikTok’s U.S. operations, acting as a strategic advisor with expertise in social media. This was revealed by businessman Frank McCourt.

Ohanian is considered a pioneer in online business. He co-founded Reddit with a university classmate and sold it to Conde Nast in 2006. In 2014, he returned to the company as an executive to help drive its growth, reports Voice of America.

Over the years, Ohanian has invested in several tech startups, including Instacart, Patreon, and OpenSea.

"He has deep knowledge of where social media has been and where it's headed," McCourt noted.

According to McCourt, Ohanian’s involvement will strengthen the bid by Project Liberty, a proposal aimed at acquiring TikTok’s U.S. assets. McCourt describes this initiative as a "people’s bid," aiming to build the platform on technology that empowers users to control their data usage and distribution.

"He can help validate our mission’s effectiveness and support its social implementation," McCourt added.

For his part, Ohanian expressed enthusiasm about the project, emphasizing his commitment to ensuring users gain greater control over their personal data.

Other investors interested in TikTok include a group led by Jesse Tinsley, featuring YouTube star MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) and entrepreneur Reid Rosner.

McCourt has submitted a detailed report to the White House regarding the TikTok acquisition, outlining financial capabilities, technological approaches, and national security considerations.

The fate of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain. ByteDance, its parent company, may opt to shut down operations in the U.S. instead of selling, potentially affecting millions of American users.