TikTok's New US App: What You Need to Know About the Big Change
TikTok is about to undergo a major change for its U.S. users. To comply with U.S. law, ByteDance is launching a new, U.S.-exclusive version of the app, and it's coming soon.
Starting September 5th, you'll find a new TikTok app, internally called "M2," in the App Store. The current version, "M," will disappear that same day, with users being prompted to download the new one. Think of it as moving houses – same furniture, new address.
What happens if you don't switch? Well, the old app will stop working in March 2026. It's a hard deadline. To keep scrolling, liking, and sharing, you will need to get the new app.
This move is a big deal. It's not every day an app with 170 million users gets a region-specific makeover. The reason? U.S. lawmakers want ByteDance to either sell TikTok's U.S. operations or face a ban. The new app will be managed by a U.S.-based ownership group, with Oracle also having a role.
I think it is understandable that some users can feel uneasy. After all, apps are part of our everyday lives, so many changes can cause some distress at first. It's necessary, though, for TikTok to continue operating legally in the U.S., so its U.S. users won't need to find another way to pass the time.
Source: Mac Rumors