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A sale of TikTok’s US operations is looking increasingly probable, which will likely require American users to download an entirely new app, potentially leading to a significantly different experience.
After repeated delays in enforcing a law mandating ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, to sell the app or face a US ban, President Donald Trump has now indicated a buyer is lined up.
Concurrently, The Information reports that TikTok is reportedly developing a new, US-specific app, possibly launching as early as September 5.
The potential for a new app isn’t surprising, largely due to China’s stance on TikTok’s proprietary algorithm, which powers its popular “For You” page.
The Chinese government has repeatedly stated it would block any transfer of this algorithm, meaning a new US TikTok would need to build its own from scratch.
While TikTok hasn’t commented on the report, it underscores the major implications for the app’s 170 million American users, potentially altering content visibility and interaction with global users.
Regulatory Pressures and Looming Deadlines
The Information’s report suggests the existing TikTok app could be removed from US app stores on the new app’s launch date, though current users might be able to use it until March of next year.
Such a transition poses challenges for transferring user profiles and content and could limit cross-border content viewing. This potential disruption might prompt some users to leave the platform.
This shift in TikTok’s position on building a separate US app contrasts with previous statements in January, where a company lawyer told the Supreme Court it would take “many years” to create a similar version, implying a “fundamentally different platform.”
The necessity for a sale stems from a national security law signed by then-President Joe Biden last year, which went into effect in January after being upheld by the Supreme Court.
Although the law allowed only one delay, Trump has now postponed enforcement three times, aiming to “save TikTok” by facilitating a deal. ByteDance faces a September 17 deadline to sell the app or face a US ban.
Trump recently mentioned “very wealthy” buyers for TikTok’s US operations, but Beijing’s necessary approval for any deal remains uncertain.
Legal experts like Jim Johnston of Davis+Gilbert note that the report of a new US app “certainly lends some credence” to the President’s recent, brief comments about a deal being close, which had previously been met with scepticism.
Under the law, a post-sale US TikTok cannot continue collaborating with ByteDance on the algorithm or user data sharing.
While ByteDance could retain a minority financial stake, the new app must have a separate algorithm and keep US user data distinct.
Some legal experts argue that the Trump administration hasn’t fully complied with the law by delaying enforcement multiple times, despite the legislation only allowing a single 90-day extension.
Cornell Law School professor Gautam Hans suggests TikTok may realise that even with Trump’s current protection, future administrations could pursue legal action if a deal isn’t finalised, implying the company can’t indefinitely postpone a sale.
Recently, Google shareholder Anthony Tan’s lawsuit against Google for restoring TikTok on its app store revealed letters from Attorney General Pam Bondi assuring tech partners they wouldn’t be liable for continued support—assurances that some legal experts, like Georgetown law professor Steve Vladek, deem legally “bollocks,” warning of future liability.
