Trump's TikTok Twist: Who's Buying and How Will It Change Your Feed?

President Donald Trump has announced that a deal to secure a new owner for TikTok in the United States is complete, ending months of uncertainty about the app’s future in the country. The popular social media platform, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, faced a possible ban after US lawmakers passed a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok to a US-approved buyer or risk having the app shut down nationwide. The main reason for this was concern over national security, as officials worried that TikTok could be forced to share American users’ data with the Chinese government.

Since the law was passed in April 2024, TikTok has tried to challenge it in court, arguing that the ban would hurt free speech and was unconstitutional. However, these legal efforts did not succeed. After Trump was elected, he extended the deadline for the sale and began searching for a new owner. Now, his administration has revealed details about how the sale will work. The plan involves copying and retraining TikTok’s algorithm—the technology that decides what videos users see—using only US user data. Oracle, a major American tech company, will audit and operate the new recommendation system. Oracle already stores TikTok’s US user data on its servers, but now it will also be responsible for securing and redeveloping the algorithm to meet US security standards.

A new joint venture will be created, involving US investors and private equity firm Silver Lake, which has experience in other major companies. The White House says the new board will include people with cybersecurity expertise and patriotic values. Several public figures, including OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely and YouTuber MrBeast, have been mentioned as possible investors. President Trump claims that Chinese President Xi Jinping approved the plan during a recent phone call. ByteDance and TikTok have not commented directly on the deal but thanked both leaders for their efforts. China’s government has responded cautiously, saying it supports business negotiations that follow market rules and Chinese laws. In the new US version of TikTok, ByteDance will own less than 20 percent, and the US expects China to help make the deal happen by issuing an export license for TikTok’s algorithm.

For American TikTok users, this deal means the app will likely remain available. On average, US users spend 51 minutes a day on TikTok. If the app had been banned, competitors like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts could have gained more users. However, experts warn that the new algorithm, which will be retrained on US data, might feel different and could affect the user experience. If the changes are too noticeable or seem to favor one political side, some users might switch to other platforms, similar to what happened with Twitter. It remains to be seen whether the new US-only TikTok will be as successful as the original, but the government hopes the changes will address security concerns while keeping the app enjoyable for its millions of users.