TikTok Sale: What Happened & What it Means for You
Kata
28 January 2026 
If you’ve been following social media news at all, you know the TikTok saga has been a long one. What started as a potential TikTok ban in March 2024 has now reached a definitive conclusion in the United States.
On January 23, 2026, TikTok announced that a new company had been formed to take over its operations in the U.S., following an executive order from President Trump signed last September.
ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, now holds a minority stake (19.9%), while a U.S.-led investor group controls the rest (80%). Among the key players? Oracle.
So, Who Bought TikTok?
TikTok’s U.S. business is now owned by a newly formed company called TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC. Here’s how the ownership breaks down:
- Managing investors: tech giant Oracle, private equity firm Silver Lake, and the UAE-based AI company MGX each hold 15%, a total of 45%
- Other investors: Including the Dell Family Office and existing ByteDance investors, holding 35%
- ByteDance: Retains a 19.9% stake without operational control
The new U.S. TikTok is estimated to be valued at around $14 billion. Adam Presser, former Chief of Staff at TikTok, is now CEO of the joint venture.
| Stakeholder group | Approx. stake | What it means |
| Oracle, Silver Lake, MGX | 15% each (45% total) | Core decision‑makers on security, infrastructure, content moderation and governance. |
| Other U.S. and allied investors (incl. Dell Family Office, Susquehanna‑linked funds, Dragoneer, General Atlantic, etc.) | ~35% combined | Broad investor base. |
| ByteDance | ~19.9% minority stake | Financial interest but no day‑to‑day operational control in the U.S. joint venture. |
What’s Oracle’s Role?
Oracle’s had its eye on TikTok since around 2020. As one of the managing investors, it will now act as as TikTok’s “trusted security partner” in the new setup, responsible for:
- Managing cloud infrastructure
- Hosting and securing the U.S. implementation of TikTok’s recommendation system (the algorithm)
That means the algorithm behind what shows up on your “For You” page is now governed under new U.S. oversight. This change has already sparked controversy, with many users searching ‘how to delete TikTok’ on Google.
What This Means for Creators and Brands
For now, not much changes on the surface. Here’s what you can expect:
- You don’t need to re-download the app
- Your accounts and content remain unchanged
- Your reach isn’t limited to the U.S. as global features still work
- Ads, e-commerce, and marketing tools continue as usual
It is still unclear whether users will notice changes in how content is recommended in their feeds. Importantly, ByteDance will have no access to U.S. user data and no influence over the U.S.-based algorithm. Content moderation and safety decisions are now made by the joint venture.
Glitches In the First Days
Just a couple of days after the TikTok sale was sealed, several glitches on the platform made headlines and triggered trust issues in the new owners. Users reported several issues: bugs, irrelevant content in their feeds, slower load times, and disappearing like counts – just to name a few.
Users have been concerned that amidst the tense political situation in the country the platform censored content. The new TikTok U.S. owners claimed it was due to technical issues and a data center outage.
Final Takeaway
The TikTok U.S. sale is officially done. What comes next? That’s still unfolding, but for now, it’s business as usual, with more clarity on the backend. As a creator or brand, stay focused on what you do best: Creating content your community cares about. We’ll keep you updated as things evolve.
FAQ
Are other apps included in the TikTok sale?
Yes. Including CapCut, Lemon8 and a “portfolio of other apps” owned by ByteDance.
Can I still use TikTok for my U.S. brand?
Yes, TikTok continues to operate in the U.S. under the new joint venture.
Will I need to download a new app or update anything?
No new app download is needed; TikTok continues under the same brand and app listing, with infrastructure and data handling shifting behind the scenes.
Will the algorithm or content performance change?
The recommendation system for U.S. users is now governed under U.S. data‑security rules and oversight, but continues to interoperate with the global TikTok product, so core engagement mechanics and best practices stay largely the same.
That said, closer scrutiny of content moderation, transparency, and safety policies is baked into the joint venture’s mandate, which could subtly affect enforcement patterns on controversial topics over time.
