Microsoft trying to buy TikTok while negotiating with Trump was the 'strangest thing'

When news spread last year that Microsoft was interested in buying the hit social networking app TikTok, a lot of techies scratched their heads. What does Microsoft, a company that makes most of its money selling productivity software and services, have to do with a social network like TikTok?

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella didn't explain his thinking at the time, but a year later he said it actually makes a bit of sense when you consider three of Microsoft's biggest acquisitions since he took charge of the company seven years ago. Minecraft in 2014, LinkedIn in 2016 and big ass porn GitHub in 2018; each were about building community, he said. 

So, when TikTok came to Microsoft, apparently intrigued by its work on child safety and its efforts to build a better community on its Xbox video game console, Nadella said it made sense to him.