Tim Stokely, the founder of OnlyFans, has submitted a bid through his startup Zoop to acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations from ByteDance. Zoop, co-founded with RJ Phillips, aims to prioritize creators by offering better revenue sharing. The bid comes as ByteDance faces a deadline of April 5 to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations or face a ban under national security concerns. Phillips, Zoop’s CEO, emphasized their commitment to restructuring the social media industry equitably. Partnering with The Hbar Foundation, which operates a secure blockchain technology, could address U.S. government concerns over data security. Other notable bids include one from Amazon, though it is reportedly not being taken seriously. The potential sale could involve an American investment team purchasing TikTok while ByteDance retains ownership of its algorithm. Phillips stresses that Zoop’s focus will remain on creators rather than shareholders. The outcome of these negotiations will soon be determined by the Trump administration. — new from WIRED
