Six Questions About Where All the TikTok Drama Is Heading

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You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers. Or at least more questions.

The ongoing, multi-part Shakespearian saga regarding TikTok’s destiny in the U.S. took another twist this week as The Information disclosed that ByteDance is working on a U.S.-centric app, codenamed M2. This app could theoretically allow ByteDance to keep operating within the United States, should it be sold to TikTok’s American acquirer. This potential move might circumvent concerns over China-owned apps.

If the TikTok app is indeed released in September, as reported, under potential new management like Oracle or another party, it would mark an end to the prolonged uncertainty surrounding the fate of popular videos such as The Sticky, The Kehlani, and The Million Dollar Baby. This uncertainty has been ongoing due to the 2024 Congressional act requiring divestment or ban, which will no longer be a concern in this scenario.

Absolutely, it’s important to consider the scenario where obstacles may arise, causing President Trump to prolong the enactment of the ban indefinitely, similar to what happened when he extended it for a third time recently.

This week’s letters obtained via FOIA suggest that Attorney General Pam Bondi disclosed Trump’s assertion of extensive “executive powers.” These powers, as claimed by Trump, enable him to lift the ban due to potential conflicts with his constitutional responsibilities to protect national security and manage foreign affairs of the United States. This claim has left many legal experts astonished.

Here are six questions given where we stand:

Will the new U.S. TikTok be as good?

One of the primary concerns about the revamped TikTok in America is whether it will retain its allure. The success of the short-video platform lies in its ability to accurately predict and cater to user preferences, a skill that has eluded competitors like Instagram’s Reels and YouTube’s Shorts. U.S. investors are hesitant about paying top dollar for an algorithm that might not be as effective, especially if ByteDance retains control over it, posing potential security risks. The proposed solution, M2, seems to bypass this problem, allowing ByteDance to add the necessary ingredients but then handing over control to Americans to run the show. Whether we’ll still find it as tempting remains to be seen.

Will China really not be collecting our information?

The main cause for the ban was concerns that a popular app used by nearly one-third of Americans, controlled by China, could provide access to vast amounts of consumer and personal data which U.S. officials would rather not be accessible to foreign powers. A divestment would theoretically overcome this obstacle; however, M2, if built by ByteDance, raises doubts about how effectively user data can be isolated from Chinese authorities. Consequently…

Would China approve the deal?

Any ByteDance spinoff requires approval from the Chinese government. Money, such as Oracle’s reported potential $40 billion offer in cash and stock, could potentially sweeten the deal. However, given China’s ongoing trade dispute with the U.S., under President Trump, Beijing might link a sale to Trump easing tariffs, which he may refuse to do. Alternatively, they could reject the deal entirely, potentially putting pressure on Trump. Nonetheless, Trump has expressed optimism, stating that negotiations with China could commence as early as Monday or Tuesday and that “I think we’re gonna have a good deal…I think it’s good for them. I think the deal is good for China and it’s good for us.

Do the Ellisons become one of the most powerful families in media?

As a fervent admirer, if Larry Ellison and Oracle were to take ownership of the upcoming U.S. venture, as Trump often proposes, it could set the stage for an exciting expansion into the realm of media empires. With David Ellison, Larry’s son, closing in on a deal to acquire Paramount, this potential union would place them at the helm of one of Hollywood’s foremost content creators, simultaneously controlling a leading social media platform – a combination that hasn’t been seen since the Murdochs dominated MySpace, and arguably not even then.

Does TikTok go the Twitter-ian way of far-right quicksand pit?

As a gamer, I can’t help but wonder if my friend Ellison’s connections with Trump might influence the direction of TikTok. After all, he donated to Trump’s inauguration and even hosted fundraisers for him. Co-president of Oracle, Safra Catz, was part of Trump’s transition team too. Now, I’m just speculating here, but could this close relationship potentially steer TikTok towards a more conservative stance?

This is reminiscent of what happened to Twitter when Elon Musk publicly backed Donald Trump during the last election cycle. The platform seemed to favor far-right conspiracy theories and suppress many progressive voices, leading to a mass exit by Democrats. Granted, Ellison isn’t as vocal as Musk, but given his potential new ownership of TikTok, it’s not entirely unthinkable that TikTok might follow a similar path.

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2025-07-09 20:54