In the words of Vito Corleone, Bytedance was just given an offer they cannot refuse. It's amazing that what is likely to be one of Microsoft's best acquisitions ever in terms of price/reward will be a company that has no fit whatsoever in their business model. Great post, Hank, you nailed the challenges ahead for Microsoft.
Due respect, Hank, but TikTok's biggest problem isn't content creation or monetization or creative freedom, it's reputational risk. The very first thing Microsoft needs to do is promise (and deliver) full transparency about how TikTok collects and uses data from its users, and about what precisely will change now that the platform isn't part of Bytedance and has no ties to China. Most of what's been said so far is posturing for political purposes, but if they don't address this first, then the PR issues will distract them from all of the suggestions you've made above, the platform will ultimately collapse, and we'll have yet another discussion of "cancel culture."
Microsoft has stayed mostly above the fray with regard to the collection/use of personal data because they don't own a major player in that space. This would be a name-brand entry and make them instantly competitive with the major players. If they set an example for how to do this properly, they will not only enjoy the freedom to do the things you suggest, but also potentially move the industry in the right direction and shape the national discussion of the risk/benefit of customizing content with user data. Their existing platforms (principally Azure, but likely others as well) provide an infrastructure that can help and shouldn't be ignored - although I agree with you that anything that smells like opportunism will damage the cause.
The iron is hot - Microsoft should strike now, save the TikTok platform, and make the broader impact they are well-positioned to make if they prioritize the long-term relationships over short-term profits.
This is interesting from a Geopolitical perspective honestly. The USA isn't first here, India outright banned Tik-Tok as well as a bunch of other so-called 'made-in-china' apps less than a month ago. It'll be interesting if this stance continues when ownership shifts to a country that is ostensibly a closer ally.
I know this is my bias and probably some fear mongering against China, but I still feel a distrust for tiktok when it comes to data privacy and stealing of info. Its not that I'm trying to be racist but the Chinese government is more than willing to do this to their own citizens, why would they stop themselves from doing it in other countries as well? I know that the owners of tiktok claim to be separate from their origins, but if there were still connections, would they even disclose it? Would keeping the teams and structures behind a company like that really be a good idea to keep? I do think that Microsoft being the owner would raise confidence in data privacy in the app, but I do not think keeping *all* the people and structure behind it is a good idea.
In the words of Vito Corleone, Bytedance was just given an offer they cannot refuse. It's amazing that what is likely to be one of Microsoft's best acquisitions ever in terms of price/reward will be a company that has no fit whatsoever in their business model. Great post, Hank, you nailed the challenges ahead for Microsoft.
I wish it was culturally normal at CO level and above for owners/orgs to visibly give a damn about their platform's communities!
Due respect, Hank, but TikTok's biggest problem isn't content creation or monetization or creative freedom, it's reputational risk. The very first thing Microsoft needs to do is promise (and deliver) full transparency about how TikTok collects and uses data from its users, and about what precisely will change now that the platform isn't part of Bytedance and has no ties to China. Most of what's been said so far is posturing for political purposes, but if they don't address this first, then the PR issues will distract them from all of the suggestions you've made above, the platform will ultimately collapse, and we'll have yet another discussion of "cancel culture."
Microsoft has stayed mostly above the fray with regard to the collection/use of personal data because they don't own a major player in that space. This would be a name-brand entry and make them instantly competitive with the major players. If they set an example for how to do this properly, they will not only enjoy the freedom to do the things you suggest, but also potentially move the industry in the right direction and shape the national discussion of the risk/benefit of customizing content with user data. Their existing platforms (principally Azure, but likely others as well) provide an infrastructure that can help and shouldn't be ignored - although I agree with you that anything that smells like opportunism will damage the cause.
The iron is hot - Microsoft should strike now, save the TikTok platform, and make the broader impact they are well-positioned to make if they prioritize the long-term relationships over short-term profits.
This is interesting from a Geopolitical perspective honestly. The USA isn't first here, India outright banned Tik-Tok as well as a bunch of other so-called 'made-in-china' apps less than a month ago. It'll be interesting if this stance continues when ownership shifts to a country that is ostensibly a closer ally.
I know this is my bias and probably some fear mongering against China, but I still feel a distrust for tiktok when it comes to data privacy and stealing of info. Its not that I'm trying to be racist but the Chinese government is more than willing to do this to their own citizens, why would they stop themselves from doing it in other countries as well? I know that the owners of tiktok claim to be separate from their origins, but if there were still connections, would they even disclose it? Would keeping the teams and structures behind a company like that really be a good idea to keep? I do think that Microsoft being the owner would raise confidence in data privacy in the app, but I do not think keeping *all* the people and structure behind it is a good idea.