A new TikTok app exclusively for the U.S. audience is coming
TikTok’s survival in the U.S. may now hinge on a brand-new app and a last-minute sale, if regulators, lawmakers, and Beijing all say yes.
After years of U.S. congress debates, stalled bans, and deal drama, TikTok’s saga in the U.S. may finally be nearing a turning point, with a brand-new app set to replace the old one.
The short-form video giant is reportedly preparing to launch a separate version of the app, internally dubbed “M2,” in U.S. app stores by September 5, just ahead of the third and latest ban deadline on September 17. The move is part of an ongoing deal being worked out between ByteDance and a group of “non-Chinese” investors led by Oracle. Under the proposed structure, ByteDance would retain only a minority stake, which U.S. officials believe satisfies the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.”
Ogbonda Chivumnovu
But this isn’t the first time ByteDance has been here.
Back in 2020, during Trump’s first term, the company was ordered to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations due to national security concerns. Microsoft, in partnership with Walmart, had negotiated to buy TikTok’s business in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. But the deal collapsed when ByteDance refused to sell its core algorithm, and the Chinese government tightened tech export rules. A later proposal involving Oracle and Walmart also failed to materialise.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
Now, TikTok’s strategy seems more preemptive. Rather than wait for another shutdown, the company appears to be planning a full migration, new app, new servers, and perhaps fewer headaches. That transition won’t be simple. Moving 170 million U.S. users and their data to American servers could trigger technical disruptions. Still, the company hopes to make the switch quietly before the ban hammer comes down.
It’s unclear whether the creation of a new app was a White House requirement or part of the investor strategy to gain regulatory approval. Either way, TikTok is already trying to frame the narrative, thanking Trump for his leadership and expressing support for the platform’s American users and businesses.
Meanwhile, Oracle just signed a separate agreement with the U.S. government to provide discounted cloud infrastructure, possibly positioning itself as a more trusted data custodian in this evolving arrangement.
What happens next depends on many moving parts, including whether Chinese authorities sign off. But if all goes according to plan, the TikTok Americans know today could quietly fade out, replaced by a nearly identical twin, rebuilt for a different political reality.
