TikTok to build new app for US users ahead of potential sale

TikTok is building a new version of its app for US users ahead of its potential sale to a group of investors.

The news comes after President Donald Trump said he would start talking to China about a finalising possible deal early last week.

TikTok is planning to launch the new app to the US app store on 5 September, according to a report by The Information.

Users of the social media app will eventually have to download the new app in order to continue using the service – although the existing app will still work until March next year. The timeline for this is subject to change.

Last month, Trump extended the deadline for the China-based parent company, ByteDance, to divest the US assets of TikTok for the second time to 17 September.

A deal had been in the pipeline earlier in the year for a spin off of TikTok’s operations to be sold to a new US-based firm owned by investors. This was put on hold after China would not approve such a deal after Trump announced steep tariffs on goods from the country.

PMW has reached out to TikTok for comment.