TikTok Reportedly Developing a US-Specific App
TikTok is reportedly developing a new version of its application specifically for users in the United States, a move that comes as discussions intensify around a potential sale of the popular short-video app to a consortium of investors. The news was first reported by The Information on Sunday, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter.
New App Development Underway
The development surfaces just as U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he would commence discussions with China early this week regarding a possible TikTok deal. President Trump indicated that the United States has “pretty much” secured an agreement for the sale of the app’s U.S. operations.
According to The Information, the social media platform has a tentative plan to launch this new U.S.-specific application on the 5th of September in American app stores. Users will eventually be required to download this new version to continue accessing the service, although the existing app is expected to remain functional until March of next year. However, the timeline for this transition could be subject to change.
Presidential Involvement and Deadlines
Last month, President Trump extended the deadline for TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to divest the U.S. assets of TikTok to September 17.
Previous Deal Hurdles
Earlier this year, a deal to spin off TikTok’s U.S. operations into a new U.S.-based entity, majority-owned and operated by American investors, had been in progress. This agreement was put on hold after China signalled its disapproval following President Trump’s announcements of significant tariffs on Chinese goods. President Trump has since stated that any deal would likely require approval from Beijing. Adding to the intrigue, President Trump recently announced that a group of “very wealthy people” are behind the acquisition of TikTok, with their identities expected to be revealed within approximately two weeks.
