ByteDance is developing a special new version of the TikTok app for the United States. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
This project is being implemented to prevent the app from being banned in the country. According to Pravilamag publication, the new version is expected to launch in late summer or early autumn of this year.
At the same time, the current original TikTok app will be removed from the App Store. Users will be required to switch to the new app, but the existing version will continue to operate until March 2026.
For now, the new app is called M2, but this name may change before the official presentation. Currently, TikTok is registered legally under the name M1.
These changes are being made in response to new restrictions imposed by the US government. In May 2024, US President Joe Biden signed a special law.
According to this law, if TikTok does not sell its business in the US to a local company, it will be banned in the country by January 19, 2025. On January 19, 2025, the app ceased operations in the US, but the next day, following a statement from Donald Trump, TikTok's operations were restored.
On April 4, Trump gave ByteDance an additional 75 days to sell TikTok's US assets. Otherwise, a complete ban on the app could be imposed.
ByteDance is looking for a new way to operate TikTok in the US. The new M2 app is planned to be presented as if it were developed by another company in America.
This will be done within the framework of the country's national security requirements. This strategy will allow TikTok to continue serving millions of users in the US.
The existing features will be retained in the new version, and users will not notice significant changes. The deal to sell TikTok is currently at risk.
The main reason for this is that the new 34% tariffs imposed by Trump due to the Chinese government have not been approved for this deal. These tariffs could combine with previous rates to reach a total of 54%.
Currently, TikTok's fate is tied to political and economic disputes, manifesting as a new phase of competition between the US and China. TikTok, which has over a billion users worldwide, is one of the most popular social platforms and has a wide audience in Uzbekistan as well.
The processes surrounding the ban in the US and the new app could impact not only global internet policy but also the geopolitical balance in the technology and media sectors. As a result, a new era of legal, technical, and geopolitical conditions for platforms like TikTok is expected to begin.
