You’re allowed to keep scrolling. TikTok has finalized its U.S. joint venture

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TikTok, the hugely popular social video platform, is officially here to stay.

Following a long period of uncertainty, TikTok and its owner, ByteDance, have officially established a new partnership to operate the app in the United States.

So, here’s the backstory: back in September, President Trump signed an order basically forcing ByteDance – the company behind TikTok – to sell off the majority of its U.S. operations. The deal was that it had to be sold to an investment group led by Americans. It was a pretty significant move, and really put TikTok’s future in the States in question.

Business

TikTok announced on Thursday that it has reached an agreement to create a U.S. business partnership. American investors will own the majority of this new company, which will be responsible for running TikTok in the United States.

TikTok announced on Thursday that its U.S. business is now jointly managed by three investors: Silver Lake, Oracle, and MGX, an investment firm from the United Arab Emirates. Each of these investors owns 15%, while ByteDance still holds 19.9%.

I’m really excited about this new direction! Adam Presser, who used to be in charge of operations and safety at TikTok, is going to lead the charge. He’ll be working with a board of directors – seven people total, and most of them are American – alongside TikTok’s CEO, Shou Chew. It feels like a positive step forward.

A year ago, a new law was passed that forced ByteDance to either sell its U.S. business related to the app or have it banned nationwide.

The company announced that it’s adding stronger protections for user data and the algorithms it uses, along with improved content review and more reliable software.

Hollywood Inc.

People were concerned the app would be shut down after the Supreme Court allowed a ban, following concerns about national security that President Trump voiced in 2020.

According to a statement released Thursday, the updated version will include strong security measures to safeguard U.S. users’ data, protect against harmful content, and ensure the software is secure. These measures are designed to protect national security.

Oracle’s cloud infrastructure will provide the security for these features. Meanwhile, Oracle Executive Chairman Larry Ellison has recently been in the news for trying to buy Warner Bros. Discovery using Paramount as a vehicle.

TikTok will remain available and work as usual for people in the United States. The company says over 200 million Americans and 7.5 million businesses currently use the app.

The announcement last month is good news for many U.S. influencers, especially those in Southern California, who depend on the platform to earn a living.

This agreement resolves uncertainty about TikTok’s future. The platform is now a leading social media app with a significant impact, including a strong presence in Culver City.

For years, the company’s future in the U.S. has been unclear due to worries from lawmakers about its connection to the Chinese company ByteDance and potential security risks.

Despite previously trying to ban TikTok in the U.S., President Trump ultimately allowed the app to continue operating and, in September, approved an executive order detailing a new partnership agreement.

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2026-01-23 19:01