TikTok’s U.S. Future Remains Uncertain as Deadline Approaches

The short-form video app TikTok continues to face the prospect of a U.S. ban, with no final confirmation of a divestiture deal as the latest enforcement extension nears its end on January 23, 2026. Under the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (signed into law in 2024), ByteDance must divest its U.S. operations to non-Chinese ownership to address national security concerns related to potential data access and influence by the Chinese government.

In September 2025, President Trump announced a proposed arrangement involving an Oracle-led consortium taking control of a U.S.-specific version of the app, accompanied by an executive order delaying enforcement. This marked the fifth such extension since the law’s effective date in January 2025, when TikTok briefly went offline for U.S. users before partial restoration via executive action. Reports from December 2025 indicated that TikTok had signed initial agreements to form TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, with investors including Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX holding a significant stake.

ByteDance would retain a minority interest, and the algorithm would be retrained using only U.S. data to limit foreign influence. TikTok CEO Shou Chew reportedly informed staff that the deal was advancing toward a closing date of January 22, 2026, to meet the deadline.

However, as of mid-January 2026, no official joint announcement from ByteDance, TikTok, or the Chinese government has confirmed completion or final approval. A Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson expressed hope for a solution compliant with Chinese regulations and balanced interests, while emphasizing fair treatment for Chinese firms in the U.S. The outcome will impact TikTok’s 170 million U.S. users and its role in the social media landscape – potentially creating another “power vacuum” that leads to a new wave of TikTok alternatives.