With a September deadline approaching, reports indicate that TikTok is developing a replacement app for its 170 million American users as part of a sale to a group led by Oracle.
Facing potential restrictions in the U.S., TikTok has an ambitious plan to safeguard its future. According to a report from The Information, the company is reportedly creating a new version of its app, codenamed “M2,” specifically for the U.S. market.
This new app is expected to launch in U.S. app stores as early as September 5, ahead of the planned sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations to American investors. If implemented, TikTok’s American users would need to download the M2 app to continue using the service. The current app will remain operational alongside M2 until it is projected to shut down in March 2026, although this timeline may change.
This strategy appears to be a direct response to significant political pressure. Last month, President Donald Trump extended the deadline for TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell its U.S. assets to September 17. Trump recently indicated that negotiations were progressing, stating he would begin final talks soon with a “group of very wealthy people” ready to make the purchase.
However, the sale remains complicated. An earlier proposal to form a new U.S.-based company majority-owned by American investors fell through after China signaled it would not approve the deal. Trump acknowledged that any new agreement would likely require Beijing’s approval.
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The new plan involves a group of non-Chinese investors, including Oracle, acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations while ByteDance retains a minority stake.
Additionally, the Wall Street Journal reported that the General Services Administration recently announced a groundbreaking cloud infrastructure deal with Oracle, providing the federal government with a substantial 75% discount on its software.
Despite the geopolitical challenges, TikTok remains a dominant force in the U.S. market. According to analytics website Appfigures, it is currently the second most downloaded app on Android devices, following only ChatGPT.
TikTok has not yet responded to requests for comment on the report.
SOURCE: GIZMODO
