Key Takeaways:
- Apple keeps TikTok and other ByteDance apps on the App Store for at least another 75 days.
- President Trump delays TikTok ban to allow more time for negotiations.
- A potential deal would make TikTok’s U.S. business mostly American-owned.
- China’s approval is needed, and they want trade talks first.
- New investors might buy parts of TikTok’s U.S. business.
If you’ve been using TikTok and were worried it might disappear from your iPhone, you can breathe a sigh of relief for now. Apple just announced it’s keeping TikTok and other ByteDance apps on its App Store for at least 75 more days. This decision comes after President Trump’s administration asked Apple to keep the apps available while they work on some important negotiations.
Why Is This Happening?
The main reason for this extension is a letter Apple received from the U.S. Attorney General, Pam Bondi. The letter asked Apple to follow President Trump’s recent executive order. This order gives more time to figure out a deal that keeps TikTok running in the U.S. without any problems.
President Trump explained in a post that the deal needs more work to get all the necessary approvals. He also mentioned that he’s using tariffs as a tool to protect the U.S. economy, which might be making China a bit unhappy.
What’s Going On With TikTok?
For a while now, there’s been talk about TikTok’s ownership. The U.S. government wanted to make sure that TikTok is mostly owned by American companies to protect user data and security. But now, things have gotten a bit more complicated because of China’s involvement.
Recently, U.S. officials were close to reaching a deal. The plan was to create a version of TikTok in the U.S. that would be mostly owned by American companies. But then, ByteDance told the White House that China wouldn’t approve the deal until some trade issues are sorted out. This happened right after President Trump announced new tariffs on Chinese imports.
How Would the Ownership Work?
Under the proposed deal, new investors would own 50% of TikTok’s U.S. business. Existing U.S. investors would own about 30%, and ByteDance would own just under 20%. This means ByteDance’s control over TikTok in the U.S. would be much smaller.
A spokesperson from ByteDance said they’re still talking to the U.S. government about a possible solution, but nothing is finalized yet. They also mentioned that any deal would need to be approved by China, which adds another layer of complexity.
What Does This Mean for the Future of TikTok?
This 75-day extension gives everyone more time to figure things out. TikTok might end up being partially owned by American companies like AppLovin or Amazon, which have shown interest in buying parts of the app.
For now, TikTok users don’t have to worry about the app disappearing from their phones. The situation is still unfolding, and it’s too early to know exactly what the future holds. One thing is for sure though—this isn’t the last we’ve heard of this story.
Stay tuned for more updates, and let us know what you think about TikTok’s situation in the comments!
