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TikTok Plans New U.S. App Amid Ownership Shift and Regulatory Pressure

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Business Honor - TikTok Plans New U.S. App Amid Ownership Shift & Pressure

Business Honor
14 July, 2025

TikTok to launch updated app for U.S. users, following ongoing talks and regulatory challenges.

TikTok is building a new version of its smartphone app for United States users as it gears up for an expected sale, as reported by The Information. The new app is set to be rolled out on September 5, with users ultimately mandated to download it to keep accessing the service in the U.S. This comes after lengthy talks between the U.S. and China regarding the future of TikTok. U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he would initiate talks with China shortly and said that the U.S. already has an agreement for the sale of TikTok. Any conclusive agreement, however, could still need to be cleared by China, particularly after tensions escalated at the beginning of this year following imposed tariffs.

The parent company of TikTok, ByteDance, has also faced pressure to sell off its U.S. business because of national security concerns. President Trump had earlier set ByteDance an ultimatum of September 17 to sell off its American assets. The new mobile app seems to be a part of this transition plan. Under the current plan, the new app would be available for download today, and the old app would remain functional until March next year. However, users will eventually have to switch to the new app. This schedule may be adjusted based on the development of the deal.

An earlier proposal to spin off TikTok's American operations into a new company owned primarily by U.S. investors was halted after China objected to the plan. Although TikTok has not yet announced the launch of the new app, the move indicates its willingness to stand by American regulations while still making its services accessible to American users.