"Difficult situation" - Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary shares his views about TikTok going dark in America 

Shark Tank investor Kevin O'Leary is bidding $20 billion in cash to save TikTok from getting banned in America. In a recent Instagram reel, he shared his views about the offer and what it would mean for the American public.

Laura Coatees asks him if TikTok has agreed to accept his offer to save the platform. Talking about the same, Shark Tank's Kevin explained what is happening to TikTok. He said,

"Difficult situation because you've really detailed it well. The reason it goes dark is the servers, the American servers. Those companies oracle and others have to abide by the laws. So at 11:59 on the 19th, they will shut it down or they are going to be fined $5,000 per user every 12 hours, $1.7 billion. So they're not gonna do that."

This means TikTok will stop functioning in the United States after January 19, 2025. Some users claim that their app has stopped working and a message is being displayed that reads,

"Sorry, TikTok isn't available right now. A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can't use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!"

---

Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary talks about TikTok getting banned in America

Talking about the laws and the political situation in the country, Shark Tank's Kevin thinks it is only valid that Congress allowed TikTok a 90-day extension period. He explains,

"What we need to have happen here is the company should sign Frank McCourt's and Kevin O'Leary's LOI, the only one I know to be valid right now the company has it and give them. And ask Biden, President Biden, who has this right now, to give us a 90 day extension which he's allowed to by the order of Congress from the original situation. It's built into the order. And then it becomes Trump's deal on 12:05. We need to work with both administrations."

Navigating the conversation towards the value of TikTok in present-day America, Shark Tank's Kevin says that the platform serves as a livelihood to millions of citizens, which will affect everything. Explaining the same, Kevin said,

"I've got, all my companies, 60% of their digital spend is on TikTok. Six and a half million American families make a living off this. We can't let this go dark. The path is clear. Unless someone else has an LOI they can sign so that Biden can actually grant the 90 days tomorrow, it's gonna go dark."

Laura then asks Kevin if he'd be okay with getting TikTok without its algorithm. Shark Tank's Kevin said,

"No we don't. We can't buy it. It's clear. The supreme court has decided we cannot own the algorithm. McCourt and I have said we will not buy it."

Clearing her doubts, Laura asks if TikTok would still be valuable without its algorithm. To this, Shark Tank's Kevin replied,

"We think it's worth $20 billion. We're willing to talk about it. We don't know with certainty. We haven't seen the assets of the company. But the whole point is, everybody involved in this, Xi, Trump, six and a half million American businesses, we gotta keep it lit up."

Talking about the geopolitical issues, Kevin continued,

"And here's the thing you really have to think about is it's not in our court. Xi and Trump, the two of them. I suggest that if Xi lets this go dark, I think he's gonna make Trump unhappy. Not a good outcome. For these two men who have a very, very difficult road ahead together. I'm gonna meet, I'm flying up to Washington in the morning. I think I'm meeting 20 senators and law makers but it's really in Xi's court right now."

---

Shark Tank Season 16 airs on ABC on Fridays at 8 PM Eastern Time.