Did Meta Buy TikTok? Here's Why People Think TikTok Is "Not The Same" As It Was Before

Social media users are convinced that TikTok has been secretly sold to Meta , the tech giant headed by Mark Zuckerberg. TikToker @jpall20 put it best in her viral video: “Something very weird is happening right now, and people are thinking that TikTok sold to Meta, and there’s a lot of connections here. When I first heard this, I brushed it off but now the parallels are looking weird.” She lays out her case – that Instagram ads are allegedly popping up on TikTok, and there is now an option to link TikTok and Facebook profiles. There is even a new TikTok account created by Facebook. Then there’s @AlijahForever, who also had his own theory to share in a viral video. “For the first time ever, I am starting to see Facebook ads, sponsored Facebook ads posting today,” he said, emphasizing how unusual this is for someone who scrolls on TikTok “literally all day long.” Others mentioned how they are no longer receiving TikTok shop ads or seeing livestreams. Users like @GeauxGabrielle on X (formerly Twitter) are sharing screenshots of TikTok warning them about potential inaccuracies in the content they’re viewing. Her tweet read: “You cannot even search the word ‘fascism’ on TikTok anymore. People are searching for info on Palestine, the L.A. wildfires, and even the Holocaust and being told to look out for ‘misinformation.’ We’re watching censorship and propaganda in real time.” TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has been at the center of a U.S. political storm for years. Thanks to President Donald Trump, the beloved app has been “saved.” However, while many are convinced that Meta did purchase TikTok, skeptics argue that the appearance of Facebook ads on TikTok could simply be Meta trying to attract users from its biggest competitor. Others point out that the ability to link TikTok with Facebook profiles isn’t new, just newly noticed by users hyper-focused on the “conspiracy.” Still, the timing of these events is what’s raising eyebrows. As @jpall20 speculated, “What if they’re shutting down to switch over to like Meta servers?” If TikTok were to sell to Meta, it’d be a game-changer. Meta already dominates the social media landscape with Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Adding TikTok to the mix could solidify accusations of monopolistic behavior from the Federal Trade Commission, which has been battling Meta in court over antitrust concerns. But as of now, there’s no hard evidence that TikTok has been sold. Meta and TikTok haven’t confirmed any deal, and TikTok’s parent company ByteDance has made no announcements. Subscribe today to get unlimited access to all of Evie’s premium content.