California, United States (Enmaeya News) — TikTok is preparing to launch a separate app exclusively for U.S. users, featuring its own algorithm and data system independent from the global version. This initiative could pave the way for a sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations, a plan supported by President Donald Trump.
Over the past several months, the company has worked under tight deadlines to develop this U.S.-only version by transferring the app’s code, AI models, features, and user data from the global platform.
The project, known internally as “M2,” has a September deadline. It could represent the largest technical split between TikTok’s U.S. business and its international platform. This change will affect about 170 million U.S. users, altering how they see content and how creators outside the U.S. earn money.
The new app will function independently, similar to Douyin, TikTok’s version in China. Users outside the U.S. will not find this version in their app stores.
While some existing content will move to the new app, it is unclear how much new global content will be shared with the U.S. version. The U.S. app will train its recommendation algorithm using data only from American users, which means most content recommended will come from within the U.S.
The effort to separate TikTok’s U.S. operations has been underway for months as ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, seeks to avoid a U.S. ban. In 2024, U.S. lawmakers passed a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations by Jan. 19, citing data security concerns.
Washington officials say ByteDance’s Chinese ownership allows Beijing to access American user data or influence U.S. politics through the app.
After the January deadline passed, TikTok moved non-U.S. user data out of U.S. servers operated by Oracle, leaving only American user data stored in the U.S. This step prepared the ground for separating the U.S. and global businesses.
TikTok has also been working since last year to separate the code that runs its core recommendation algorithm. Once finished, TikTok’s U.S. technology and development will be managed separately from its global team, although some ByteDance staff may support TikTok U.S. as contractors.
Some employees worry the U.S. algorithm might not remain as effective without access to ByteDance’s global engineering expertise.
The possible sale would create a new U.S.-based company, likely owned by an investor group including ByteDance’s current shareholders Susquehanna International Group, General Atlantic, and KKR, as well as new investors like Blackstone, Andreessen Horowitz, and Oracle.
However, China has yet to approve the transfer of TikTok’s valuable recommendation algorithm. Since 2020, Chinese export rules restrict sharing such technology.
During previous talks in 2020, TikTok’s leadership rejected splitting off its U.S. operations, citing harm to users and the global network.
The current negotiations are part of broader U.S.-China trade talks. Trump recently said he would resume talks with China about a TikTok deal. He added, “I think the deal is good for China and it’s good for us,” though he remains “not confident” China will approve.
