What’s Going On Here?Oracle – the world’s second-biggest software maker – has reportedly joined the chase to buy TikTok’s operations in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. What Does This Mean?Oracle – which focuses on selling cloud computing software to corporate customers – doesn’t seem like it has the background for a consumer-facing social media app. In fact, analysts reckon it’ll have to build an entirely new arm just to accommodate the platform. But that might not matter: Oracle’s reportedly spoken to venture capital firms about partnering up in hopes that their expertise might plug the gaps in its knowledge.
Oracle’s rival-apparent seems like a more natural fit: Microsoft already owns professional social networking platform LinkedIn and search engine Bing (yep, Bing’s still around), and has experience with both their advertising businesses. Social media firm Twitter has expressed interest too, though there are some concerns it can’t actually pay for the deal… Why Should I Care?For markets: Where’s your competitive spirit?
As of May, Oracle had around $43 billion worth of cash lying around, so it could in theory buy TikTok – valued by analysts at between $20-50 billion – on its own. Microsoft has plenty in the bank too – over $136 billion, in fact – but it might be worried that suitors like Oracle could push up the price it has to pay (tweet this). Even if Microsoft eventually wins out, then, it’ll be under more pressure to turn TikTok into an advertising powerhouse to justify its likely-higher cost.
For you personally: Blind data.
A major concern the US government has with TikTok is that users’ data is exported to China – something a US buyer would aim to undo. But if you’re already worried about where your data is ending up, it’s worth keeping track of which tech giant is running your favorite platforms. That way, you can always get it wiped altogether – though that’s admittedly easier to do in Europe than elsewhere in the world. | 
