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Snapshot 7:Fri, Dec 19, 2025 10:19:41 PM GMT last edited by Nick

ByteDance Signs Deal for TikTok US Joint Venture

ByteDance Signs Deal for TikTok US Joint Venture

Does TikTok's sale free it from Chinese control, or is it a sham divestment keeping the algorithm in Beijing's hands?
ByteDance Signs Deal for TikTok US Joint Venture
Above: A phone displaying the TikTok logo against a backdrop of the Chinese flag. Image credit: Unsplash

The Spin

TikTok's sale to American investors finally frees the platform from Chinese control and protects national security. The deal ensures majority American ownership through Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX. A seven-member board dominated by Americans will oversee operations and safeguard American users' data from foreign influence.

This deal is a sham divestment that leaves TikTok's core technology in Chinese hands while pretending to address security concerns. ByteDance retains ownership of the underlying algorithm and keeps a 20% stake, meaning the structure looks more like a franchise arrangement than the clean break Congress demanded to eliminate covert data access risks.

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Metaculus Prediction

There's a 95.5% chance that TikTok will still be available in the U.S., owned by a foreign adversary, on Dec. 31, 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.



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All rights reserved.

Version 6.18.0