7am The MAGA billionaires taking over TikTok
Feb 7, 2026
Cam Wilson, Associate Editor at Crikey and political media reporter, unpacks the takeover of US TikTok by Trump-aligned investors. He explores how TikTok’s algorithm drives what goes viral. He traces the US-China dispute, legal and political moves to remake the platform. He outlines who now controls US operations and the potential cultural and editorial shifts that could follow.
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Algorithm Rewards Conflict And Video
- TikTok's personalised algorithm amplifies monoculture events and conflict-driven video content.
- That design privileges emotionally charged, visual moments over nuanced policy detail, Cam Wilson explains.
Opaque Feeds Fuel National Security Fears
- Concerns about TikTok center on data collection and its potential use as a propaganda tool.
- Cam Wilson notes opaque feeds raise fears that platform rules could be exploited to push or suppress messages.
Oracle Deal Didn't Fully Solve Access Issues
- In 2020 TikTok struck a deal with Oracle to host US data and give oversight after pressure to divest.
- Cam Wilson says the deal didn't fully address access concerns when ByteDance staff later reportedly accessed US user data.