TikTok is preparing a standalone version of its app for U. S. users, slated for launch on 5 September 2025, as part of its strategy to comply with the U. S. law mandating a sale or ban of its American operations. The current app will remain functional until March 2026, although officials say this date is subject to change.
Under the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, ByteDance must divest TikTok’s U. S. unit by 17 September 2025 or face prohibition. The creation of the so-called “M2” app would separate code and infrastructure from its Chinese parent, aiming to address national‑security concerns raised in Washington.
Donald Trump indicated “the United States pretty much has a deal” and that talks with Beijing would commence early this week, involving President Xi or his envoys. The sale is expected to transfer U. S. operations to a consortium of American investors—potentially including Oracle—while ByteDance retains a minority stake. Yet technical-and-political tension between the partnering governments looms; China has resisted ceding control over the algorithm, deemed strategic technology.
Industry insiders say the “M2” version represents more than a mere rebrand. It reportedly involves fully separate source code and systems designed to satisfy U. S. regulators and reassure users that data and operations are controlled domestically. But building and migrating some 170 million users carries risks: fragmentation of creator and brand ecosystems, potential loss of content anytime users delay updating, and disruptions for advertisers reliant on consistent U. S. reach.
One senior analyst at eMarketer, tracking platform growth, noted that while TikTok’s U. S. revenue had slowed in early 2024, its user base remains resilient. Still, the shift could alter engagement patterns. Advertisers are reportedly waiting for regulatory clarity before reallocating ad spends—many are wary of campaign uncertainty tied to a dual‑app environment.
On the political front, the bill forcing divestment won bipartisan support in 2024 to curb data security threats, citing TikTok’s potential vulnerability to influence operations by foreign actors. The law originally prescribed a January 2025 deadline, but President Biden’s enactment in April 2024 and subsequent legal disputes shifted the compliance date. President Trump’s extension to September 17, 2025, accommodates final negotiations.
Expected approval from Australia and Canadian regulators for a pilot “Notes” app—which decouples photo-sharing features—demonstrates TikTok’s evolving architecture and ability to modularise code for geopolitical compliance. The planned U. S. pivot appears to follow similar design logic.
ByteDance, parent of TikTok, declined to comment. U. S. officials, including the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, are reviewing proxy structures to ensure full operational and data separation. Final approval will require both Washington and Beijing to accede, with the latter retaining leverage through export controls on algorithmic technology.
Major bid participants are still emerging. Oracle reappears as a likely contender given prior discussions. Meanwhile, Project Liberty—a consortium led by Frank McCourt, backed by Kevin O’Leary—has pitched to replace TikTok’s algorithm with one focused on user data sovereignty and could resurface in late-stage talks.
