What does a new US TikTok deal mean for users?

TikTok has announced a deal allowing it to continue operating in the US.

But with the platform's future in the country seemingly secured, its 200 million American users are expected to see some changes.

A majority-American board now owns and operates a separate entity controlling TikTok in the US.

Backed by mostly US investors, the newly established TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC is governed by a board of seven directors.

TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew is among them, and its Chinese owner ByteDance will retain a 19.9% stake in the business.

The content recommendation algorithm at the heart of TikTok - determining which videos show up on the app's For You feed - has been licensed to tech firm Oracle.

Headed by Trump ally Larry Ellison, Oracle already oversees TikTok US user data under a previous arrangement set up over security concerns called Project Texas.

But the company will now secure more of the app, including by retraining and updating its recommendation algorithm based on US user data.

TikTok says both the algorithm and US user data will be protected in "Oracle's secure US cloud environment".

Something TikTok and those behind its new US joint venture will be keen to avoid is too much disruption to the app itself.

The US is believed to be the platform's largest global market, with 200 million users, according to TikTok.

But it faces growing competition from Instagram and its short form video feature Reels - which parent firm Meta has boosted within its apps used by billions.

And experts and analysts have warned changing TikTok too much or requiring users to move to a new app could put users and advertisers off.

"Behind the scenes, TikTok is likely working hard to assure advertisers it will remain business as normal," Jasmine Enberg, co-CEO of Scalable, a media company and podcast focused on the creator economy, told news agency AFP.

"While the need for users to download a new app seems unlikely, brand partners will want to know that their TikTok strategies won't be disrupted."

Exactly what changes US users will see to their TikTok app and feeds, as a result of the deal, remains unclear.

The BBC has asked TikTok what will change in its American experience, and when.

Dr Kokil Jaidka of the National University of Singapore previously told the BBC the app is "unlikely to suddenly feel different" for most, but "changes are plausible".

She said operating a US version of the app under a licensed algorithm could see "constraints around data access, update frequency, and integration with TikTok's global systems".

User-facing features controlled locally, such as its short videos, influencer culture and livestream shopping, may not change, Jaidka said.

However, she said many unknowns remain, with much depending "on how ByteDance tweaks the weaker links - such as data separation, update frequency, and oversight mechanisms - without degrading performance".

TikTok says the joint venture will be able to make the app compatible with other apps and regions to give US users "a global experience".

Its press release claims US creators will still be discoverable and businesses will be able to maintain global reach.

CapCut and Lemon8 are two other popular apps owned by ByteDance accessed by US users.

Previously, it was slightly unclear what the law requiring TikTok's sale or ban in the US could mean for its sister apps and their users.

But both "went dark" in the US alongside TikTok when the ban briefly took effect in January 2025.

Their future in the US now appears to be secured, with TikTok saying "safeguards provided by the Joint Venture will also cover CapCut, Lemon8, and a portfolio of other apps and websites in the US".

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