So… is TikTok finally off Washington’s chopping block? It certainly looks that way.
TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew told staff this week that ByteDance has signed binding agreements with US and global investors.
The agreements are to reshape ownership of TikTok’s American business.
The deal, expected to close on 22 January, could finally end years of political tug-of-war over national security fears.
Here’s how it breaks down. A new joint venture will see Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX each take 15%.
Other existing ByteDance investors hold about 30%. ByteDance itself keeps a minority 19.9% stake.
Crucially, Oracle will license TikTok’s recommendation algorithm — a key demand from the White House.
Deal Delays Ban
Why now? The agreement follows repeated delays to a 2024 law that threatened to ban the app unless it was sold.
President Donald Trump paused enforcement while his administration worked the phones.
This included a call with China’s President Xi Jinping.
“This looks less like surrender and more like calibrated de-escalation,” said MIT lecturer Alvin Graylin.
He called TikTok a “bargaining chip” in US-China relations.
Not everyone’s convinced. Senator Ron Wyden warned the deal may not truly protect user privacy.
And small business owners like Tiffany Cianci are watching closely, hoping new investors don’t break what already works.
For now, TikTok survives. But in geopolitics, even viral apps come with strings attached.
