TikTok Plans New App for US Users Amid Planned Sale

TikTok is developing a new app version for US users ahead of its planned sale, according to Reuters. The move comes as the company faces scrutiny from US regulators. Publicly traded companies in the social media space include Meta Platforms, Pinterest, Reddit, and Snap.

TikTok is reportedly planning to launch a new app exclusively for U.S. users, according to Reuters. This move comes amidst ongoing scrutiny from U.S. regulators and the company's planned sale of its U.S. division. The new app, internally called "M2," is set to be launched on the U.S. App Store on September 5 [1].

The existing app, currently known as "M," will continue to operate until March 2026. However, users will need to download the new app to continue using the service. This transition is part of a larger effort by TikTok to address security concerns and comply with U.S. regulations [1].

TikTok's U.S. division is set to be sold to a consortium of non-Chinese investors, with Oracle at the center. ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is expected to retain a minority stake. The sale negotiations are currently in the process of arranging legal and financial details, with final approval from the Chinese government remaining [1].

The launch of the new app is unusual for a platform with a large user base. TikTok has approximately 170 million monthly active users in the United States, and moving all users to a new app at once poses significant technical challenges [1].

Publicly traded companies in the social media space include Meta Platforms, Pinterest, Reddit, and Snap. These companies have also faced regulatory scrutiny and have implemented measures to address user data security and privacy concerns.

References:
[1] https://www.mk.co.kr/en/it/11361179