A new creator-led movement called “Own the Creative” has launched an initiative to acquire majority control of TikTok’s U.S. operations through crowdfunding as multiple billionaire investors pursue their own acquisition bids amid the platform’s pending forced sale.

The initiative, founded by former YouTube influencer & NYU alumnus Adam Juegos, proposes setting aside 51% of TikTok shares for content creators. The plan includes establishing an elected advisory board of top influencers to determine revenue-sharing policies, content moderation guidelines, and platform features.

“We can’t let TikTok become just another billionaire’s playground,” Juegos, who gained prominence as an early YouTube creator known for popularizing unboxing videos, said in a news release. “By putting creators in control and addressing security concerns, we can build a platform that’s fair, innovative, and truly by the people.”

Competing Bids from High-Profile Investors

The movement emerges as several prominent figures pursue TikTok acquisition deals. Current potential buyers include:

• Elon Musk, who previously acquired Twitter
• Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, reportedly backed by Saudi investors
• “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary, previously associated with FTX
• YouTube creator Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast)
• Sports executive Frank McCourt

Marc Faddoul, co-founder of AI Forensics, raises concerns about concentrated ownership in social media, noting on Own the Creative’s website that it creates “arbitrary power at a very massive scale.”

Security and Oversight Framework

Own the Creative’s proposal includes an independent oversight structure for data protection and community-informed algorithms for content moderation.

The initiative addresses U.S. government security concerns regarding Chinese ownership while highlighting the potential risks of Saudi Arabian investment in competing bids. The initiative claims on its website that both Musk’s Twitter acquisition and Mnuchin’s reported TikTok bid involve Saudi backing.

The framework consists of:

• A crowdfunding campaign enabling public investment
• Creator council governance
• Independent data security oversight
• AI-driven community moderation

Own the Creative aims to implement enhanced creator compensation structures while maintaining the platform’s focus on content innovation. Interested parties can learn more about the initiative or participate in the crowdfunding campaign on the organization’s website.