Northwestern experts discuss TikTok's fate amid impending U.S. sale deadline

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Michael Schill President | Northwestern University

Northwestern experts discuss TikTok's fate amid impending U.S. sale deadline

As the deadline approaches for TikTok's sale to an American company, Northwestern University experts are offering insights on the potential implications. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in January that ByteDance, TikTok's parent company in China, must sell the app to a U.S. entity by January 19. However, President Donald Trump extended the deadline to April 5 through an executive order.

Several entities have shown interest in purchasing TikTok. Last week, Trump indicated he might extend the ban if a deal is not finalized by the deadline.

Northwestern faculty are discussing the issues at stake, including legal considerations, corporate acquisitions, and the effects of TikTok's potential removal.

Professor Paul Gowder of the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, whose expertise includes the rule of law and governance, has published a book, “The Networked Leviathan.” It presents a democratic framework for online platforms to regulate users and prevent issues like misinformation and fraud.

Harry Kraemer, a clinical professor at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management, specializes in corporate governance and mergers. His perspective adds to the understanding of TikTok's corporate acquisition dynamics.

For interviews with Gowder or Kraemer, Shanice Harris is available for contact at shanice.harris@northwestern.edu.

Nathan Walter, an associate professor at the School of Communication and founder of Northwestern's Center of Media Psychology and Social Influence, emphasizes the research opportunities that arise from TikTok's removal. He remarked:

“We’ve been arguing for 20 years about the real-world impact of social media, but we didn’t have the most crucial piece of evidence. The removal of the biggest actor, especially among adolescents, could provide invaluable information that may help dictate future policies. It’s akin to being able to gauge the health ramifications of removing the biggest e-cig brands from the U.S. market.”

Interested parties can reach out to Stephen Lewis for an interview with Walter via stephen.j.lewis@northwestern.edu.

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