TikTok stock does not exist, and you cannot buy it. But it is possible to gain exposure to the company in other ways.
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How to Start Investing in StocksIndividual Retirement Account (IRA): What It Is & How It WorksThe Best Index Funds and How to Start InvestingTikTok is practically inescapable these days — if not on your phone then in the news, as the company continues to navigate its way around a U.S. ban. But that doesn’t mean you can invest in the company.
Can you buy TikTok stock?
No. Neither TikTok, nor its parent company ByteDance, are publicly traded companies, so you cannot purchase stock in either of them. However, there are some ways to gain exposure to TikTok or buy shares in other social media platforms.If you are going to buy any stock, you’ll need to have a brokerage account first.» View our picks for the best brokerage accounts»
Is there any way to invest in TikTok?
While you can’t directly invest in TikTok stock, there are a few roundabout ways to gain exposure to it.The first is to invest in publicly traded companies that hold privately held shares of ByteDance, such as SoftBank Group (SFTBY)
. The second is to work for TikTok. TikTok employees, of which there are about 7,000 in the U.S., may be granted company stock, and they may also have an opportunity to sell their investments.Brokerage firms
According to a Reuter’s report, people familiar with the matter stated that ByteDance will allow its shares held by U.S. employees to vest, meaning that those employees can cash out their restricted shares. Once their shares vest, U.S. employees can exchange their shares for cash through the company’s stock buyback program. But just because you can gain some slight exposure to TikTok doesn’t mean you should. Going to such an effort to gain exposure to one stock may not be worth your time. If you’re looking to build long-term wealth, a better strategy may be to invest in funds that hold the stock of many companies, such as index funds or exchange-traded funds.
Will TikTok go public in the future?
It’s hard to say. A few years ago there were reports that ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, was planning to go public, but that has yet to happen. Moreover, Reuters’ exclusive report suggested ByteDance’s move to allow its U.S. employees to cash in their vested shares is a sign that the company may not be planning to go public anytime soon.
What about the TikTok ban?
ByteDance has been under a lot of pressure to sell TikTok due to a looming TikTok ban. The ban was enacted on Jan. 19, 2025, and it prohibited app stores from offering TikTok and internet hosting services from supporting it. But a day later, on Jan. 20, 2025, an executive order was signed granting TikTok a 75-extension.On Sept. 26, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order approving a proposal that will allow TikTok to continue operating in the U.S. Under this arrangement, tech company Oracle will watch over TikTok's security and cloud computing services.TikTok has since signed an agreement to divest its U.S. entity before January 23, 2026. Currently, TikTok is available to download on the app store. Make sense of the markets with The Nerdy InvestorA weekly wrap on what's moving markets, plus two monthly deep-dives on how to improve your investing, straight to your inbox.Subscribe for freeWhat does this mean for a potential TikTok stock? The future is uncertain, but if a public company buys TikTok, you may be able to buy stock in that company.
Other social media platforms
One of the main social media platform sites you can buy stock in is Meta (which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp). You can also buy stock in Pinterest.» Learn how to buy Meta stock or buy Pinterest stock» Learn howExplore more on
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Article sourcesArticle sourcesNerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.SoftBank Group. SoftBank Vision Fund. Accessed Jan 21, 2025.Reuters. Exclusive: TikTok parent ByteDance to allow US staff to cash out on shares, sources say. Accessed Jun 3, 2024.BBC. Delay to TikTok ban gets Trump sign-off. Accessed Jan 21, 2025.Yahoo Finance. TikTok owner ByteDance's valuation hits US$500 billion as US survival plan advances. Accessed Jan 12, 2026.About the author BensonAlana Benson is an editor who joined NerdWallet in 2019. Historically she has covered a wide variety of investing topics including stocks, socially responsible investing, cryptocurrency, mutual funds, HSAs and financial advice. She is also a frequent contributor to NerdWallet's "Smart Money" podcast. Alana has appeared on FOX Houston and the "PennyWise" podcast and has been quoted in MarketWatch and The Sun. Before joining NerdWallet, she wrote two books on identity theft and several young adult nonfiction titles. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Associated Press, MSN, Yahoo Finance and MarketWatch.Published inBest Brokerage Accounts for Online Investing and Stock Trading in 2026By Chris DavisBest Robo-Advisors for Automated Investing: Top Picks for 2026By Alana Benson, Sabrina ParysInvesting in Dividend Stocks: Guide, Calculator and Top 7 Yields for July 2026By Chris Davis, Sam TaubeBest Brokers for Beginner Investors: Top Picks for 2026By Alana Benson, Bella AvilaBest Investments: Where to Invest in 2026By Chris Davis, Alieza Durana
