TikTok Reportedly Building New, US-Based Version of App In Anticipation of Upcoming Deal

TikTok's American Makeover: A New App and a September Deadline

The saga of TikTok in the United States continues to evolve, with the latest reports indicating a significant step towards its anticipated sale to a group of US investors. It appears that ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, is actively developing a new version of its popular short-form video app specifically for American users, with a targeted launch date of September 5th.

This move comes amidst ongoing negotiations and a series of extended deadlines from the US government. President Trump recently stated that talks with China regarding a potential TikTok deal would resume, underscoring the high-stakes nature of this divestiture.

What Does This Mean for US TikTok Users?

According to sources, the plan involves launching a new app, internally dubbed "M2," to US app stores on September 5th. This new application is intended to facilitate the transfer of TikTok's US operations to American ownership. While the existing app will continue to function for US-based users until March of next year, the ultimate expectation is that users will need to download the new app to maintain access to the service.

The current TikTok app, referred to as "M" internally by ByteDance, will reportedly be removed from US app stores on the day the new app debuts. Users attempting to launch the old version may be redirected to update to the new one. This migration of TikTok's estimated 170 million US users is a highly unusual step for an app of this scale and aims to address long-standing data security concerns.

The Road to Divestiture: A Bumpy Ride

The requirement for ByteDance to divest its US TikTok assets stems from a law passed by Congress and signed by former President Joe Biden, which was later upheld by the Supreme Court. The original deadline for this divestiture was January 19th, the day before President Trump took office. However, Trump has since extended this deadline three times, with the current cutoff set for September 17th.

These extensions have been granted to allow a deal to be finalized, a process that has been complicated by shifting geopolitical landscapes. A previous deal was reportedly put on hold after China indicated it would not approve it, following the Trump administration's announcement of steep tariffs on Chinese goods.

Who are the "Very Wealthy People"?

President Trump recently revealed that a group of "very wealthy people" are looking to acquire TikTok's US operations, and he expects to disclose their identities in the coming weeks. Reports suggest that this group of potential investors may be the same consortium that was interested in the deal before China's earlier withdrawal from negotiations. While specific names are yet to be confirmed, companies like Oracle have been mentioned as potential participants in a US-led consortium.

This development signifies a critical juncture for TikTok in the US. The launch of a new, US-centric app, coupled with the renewed push for a sale, indicates a concerted effort to navigate the regulatory challenges and ensure the platform's continued presence for its vast American user base. However, the success of this transition will ultimately depend on securing approval from both the US and Chinese governments, and the migration of millions of users to a new application presents its own set of logistical challenges.