TikTok, at least a U.S. version owned by new investors, could arrive for domestic users with a fresh user experience and interface . The current app will remain available until March 2026, but a new version codenamed “M2” might launch as early as September 5, 2025. This development follows ongoing efforts to separate TikTok’s U.S. operations from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
President Donald Trump recently said the U.S. “pretty much” has a deal to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations. Talks with China are expected soon to approve the sale. The transaction involves non-Chinese investors, with Oracle as a leading buyer. Oracle would hold a majority stake, while ByteDance would keep a minority interest.
This plan aligns with the Biden administration’s foreign adversary legislation, which demanded TikTok divest by January 19, 2025. However, Trump has delayed enforcing the ban three times. These delayed pushed the deadline back to 2026.
Inside TikTok, staff are preparing a new app version, internally called “M2,” targeting a September 5 release. Both the old TikTok and M2 will coexist for a time. By March 2026, the original app will be removed from U.S. app stores.
Oracle’s involvement is critical. The company is part of the $500 billion Stargate deal and has been a front-runner in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. business. AI search startup Perplexity also expressed interest in purchasing TikTok and open-sourcing its popular For You feed.
This dual-app strategy ensures TikTok’s U.S. presence continues while ownership and data controls transition. New ownership may change how TikTok operates under new American management, addressing national security concerns about Chinese data influence.
TF Summary: What’s Next
TikTok’s U.S. future hinges on completing the sale and transitioning users to the new M2 app. The dual-app phase allows a smoother handover and regulatory compliance.
Oracle’s lead role and potential involvement by other tech firms is a strong sign of corporate interest in controlng TikTok’s American operations. Watch for regulatory approvals from both Washington and Beijing to finalize the deal.
— Text-to-Speech (TTS) provided by gspeech