The sale of TikTok is official. Starting January 22, 2026, a group of American investors will take over its U.S. operations through a new company called TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC.
This new venture will be partially owned by three major players: Oracle Corporation, Silver Lake, and MGX, a firm from Abu Dhabi. Together, they will hold 45% of TikTok. Meanwhile, existing investors in ByteDance will keep 30.1%, and ByteDance itself will retain 19.9%. This structure aims to ensure that U.S. operations are secure and focused on American users.
TikTok’s CEO, Shou Chew, expressed gratitude to the staff in a memo, saying, “Your efforts keep us operating at the highest level.” He emphasized the importance of staying focused on users, creators, and businesses.
The deal has its roots in a previous executive order signed by former President Trump in September, aimed at addressing national security concerns over TikTok’s ties to China. Although Trump hinted that media magnate Rupert Murdoch could be part of the deal, it remains uncertain if he is involved in the new ownership structure.
Interestingly, despite political pressures, TikTok has navigated attempts to ban the app. Previous executive orders aimed to postpone a ban while negotiating this sale.
As part of the new agreement, Oracle will ensure user data protection and oversee content moderation policies. They plan to retrain TikTok’s content recommendation algorithm using U.S. user data, aiming to protect against outside influences.
Both Oracle and Silver Lake have experience in the entertainment sector. Oracle’s founder, Larry Ellison, is also involved in other media acquisitions, while Silver Lake has stakes in major companies like WME and TKO Group Holdings.
The TikTok landscape continues to evolve, showcasing the platform’s resilience. The focus on data protection and user trust will be key as TikTok moves forward in an ever-competitive digital space.
For more on TikTok’s impact on social media and digital marketing trends, you can visit Statista.
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