TikTok is building a new version of its app for US users

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The law requiring TikTok to either sell its US operations or face a ban has officially been in place since January. 

Despite that, TikTok has only been shut down in the US for a single day so far. 

According to a report from The Information, negotiations for a sale that meets the US government’s requirements are nearing completion. (Via: The Verge)

If this deal goes through, it will result in a new, separate version of the TikTok app just for US users.

However, any agreement still needs approval from the Chinese government, since TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is based in China. 

Adding to the complexity, China is still arguing with the US, specifically the Trump administration, about tariffs on goods. So, there’s a lot of tension between the two countries.

The report says the Trump administration is finalizing a sale of TikTok’s US operations to a group of investors not based in China. 

This group includes Oracle, a major American tech company. 

In the proposed deal, ByteDance would keep a smaller, minority stake in the US version of TikTok, which would meet the requirements of a US law aimed at preventing foreign adversaries from controlling apps used by Americans.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported that Oracle has signed a new agreement with the US government, offering federal agencies big discounts on cloud services and software, up to 75 percent off. 

This agreement is unique because it gives the entire government access to cheaper technology.

TikTok employees are already developing a new version of the app, internally called M2, which they plan to release in US app stores on September 5th. 

President Trump has extended the deadline for banning TikTok from US app stores three times, but the latest extension ends in mid-September. 

If everything goes as planned, the old version of TikTok will be removed when M2 launches and will stop working completely by March 2026.

What do you think about this move from TikTok? Do you think it’s a smart decision? Tell us below in the comments, or via our Twitter or Facebook.