Currently, the TikTok app, which is based in China, is not accessible in the United States App Store for iPhone users since the company did not finalize a sale to a U.S. owner before the recent ban took effect.
Nevertheless, negotiations are reportedly ongoing to transition TikTok to new ownership, potentially allowing it to return to the App Store. However, no agreements are imminent at this stage.
According to NPR, the White House is directly involved in discussions that could lead to Oracle and a consortium of external investors acquiring TikTok. The current owner, ByteDance, would maintain a minority interest.
This arrangement would likely result in TikTok’s global operations being primarily under U.S. ownership, rather than splitting into distinct U.S. and non-U.S. divisions.
Oracle has previously expressed interest in partnering with TikTok and is already well-acquainted with its operational needs. The cloud provider supplies crucial web infrastructure for TikTok’s backend and, four years ago, during the Trump administration, was in negotiations for a TikTok acquisition in conjunction with Walmart.
One significant hurdle in the discussions is the financial details. TikTok is reportedly seeking a valuation in the hundreds of billions, which is a colossal amount that few companies can raise independently. Trump had mentioned the possibility of government investment, suggesting TikTok could become a partially nationalized entity, although the seriousness of this proposal at present is uncertain.
That aside, here’s where things stand currently.
For U.S. users of the widely popular short-form video app, if you already have the app installed on your smartphone—be it iPhone or Android—it continues to function normally. However, since it is not listed in the App Store, updates cannot be applied, and if the app is deleted, it cannot be reinstalled. This means new phone purchasers cannot access TikTok.
The app remains available without restrictions in all other regions around the globe.
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