TikTok US Deal Finalized: 5 Critical Things You Need to Know [2025]

Tik Tok US Deal Finalized: Everything You Need to Understand About the New Agreement [2025]

After months of legal battles, political negotiations, and uncertainty that kept millions of American users refreshing their feeds nervously, the deal to keep Tik Tok operating in the United States is finally locked in. But here's the thing: understanding what actually changed requires cutting through the noise of political soundbites and legal jargon.

The agreement represents one of the most significant tech policy decisions in recent US history. It's not just about keeping an app on your phone—it's about data security, algorithmic transparency, foreign ownership rules, and how governments around the world will regulate social media going forward. For Tik Tok's 170 million monthly active users in the US, for content creators who earn their living on the platform, and for the broader tech industry watching how this unfolds, the details matter enormously.

So what actually got decided? How does this deal change things practically? What happens to your data? And most importantly, what does this mean for the future of Tik Tok as you know it?

Let's break down five critical elements of the finalized agreement that actually affect you, your experience on Tik Tok, and what happens next. We'll skip the political posturing and focus on what's real, what's changing, and what's still unclear.

The Deal's Core Structure: New Ownership Requirements

Here's where most people get confused, so let's start with what's actually happening legally. The finalized deal doesn't ban Tik Tok outright—that's important. Instead, it requires a substantial divesting of Byte Dance's ownership stake in the company's US operations.

Previously, the threat hung over Tik Tok like a guillotine: divest or disappear. The new agreement crystallizes this into an actual structure. Byte Dance, Tik Tok's Chinese parent company, must reduce its ownership to below 20% of Tik Tok's US business, effectively transferring control to an American entity or consortium.

But here's what makes this interesting: the deal doesn't specify exactly who the buyer needs to be. Initial speculation pointed toward Microsoft, Oracle, or even private equity firms. Each potential buyer brings different implications. Microsoft would integrate Tik Tok into its existing cloud and advertising infrastructure. Oracle has been positioning itself as a trustworthy US partner for data security. A private equity buyer might focus purely on maximizing growth and user engagement.

The timeline for this transition matters. The agreement provides a reasonable runway for negotiation and transfer—we're not talking about overnight changes. This gives Tik Tok stability in the near term while establishing clear endpoints for compliance. If the deal falls apart or deadlines slip, that's when the risk of actual shutdown increases again.

What's genuinely new here is that Chinese ownership of a major social media platform operating in the US essentially becomes impossible under this framework. Whether you think that's good policy or not, it's a permanent shift in how American tech regulation will work going forward. No Chinese company can build a billion-user social network in the US anymore—that door is effectively closed.

Data Security and Algorithmic Transparency: The Real Technical Changes

Now let's talk about what actually changes in the technology. The finalized agreement includes specific requirements for data isolation and algorithmic oversight that are more concrete than the original proposals.

First, the data security piece. Tik Tok's massive database of American user data—your browsing history, viewing preferences, location data, search queries, interaction patterns—cannot be accessed by Byte Dance's servers in China under the new terms. This wasn't guaranteed before. The company built various security mechanisms, but those were voluntary measures, not legally mandated separation.

The new deal requires what engineers call complete data segregation. Think of it like moving from a shared apartment where your landlord has a key to your room, to a locked box that only you can open. American user data stays on American servers. Chinese operations can't casually query that database. Access requires explicit authorization and audit trails.

Implementing this technically is non-trivial. It means rebuilding significant portions of Tik Tok's backend infrastructure. The recommendation engine—the algorithm that decides which videos appear on your For You page—needs to function independently without constant communication with Chinese servers. This is the difference between having Byte Dance's AI researchers in Beijing fine-tuning Tik Tok's algorithm in real-time versus having it run autonomously in the US with periodic updates.

The algorithmic piece is where things get genuinely interesting. The deal mandates increased transparency about how the recommendation algorithm works. Not just for users (that was already happening to some extent), but for regulators and independent auditors. US authorities will have the right to regularly inspect how the algorithm makes decisions, test it for bias, and verify it's not being manipulated for political purposes.

This is actually revolutionary for social media regulation. Meta, Snapchat, You Tube—none of them face the same algorithmic audit requirements. They can keep their recommendation systems as black boxes. Tik Tok, by contrast, now operates under a regime where government auditors can look under the hood regularly.

What this means practically: If someone suspects Tik Tok's algorithm is suppressing content about certain political topics, there's now a mechanism to actually investigate and prove it. If researchers want to study how the algorithm recommends content to different demographics, they have clearer access. If Tik Tok's new US owners want to make changes to what content gets amplified, those changes become auditable.

What Happens to Your Data Right Now

Let's address the question everyone actually cares about: Is my Tik Tok data secure? What are they doing with it?

Under the finalized agreement, your US data is now subject to explicit protective measures. Here's the practical breakdown:

Your video watch history, the accounts you follow, your direct messages, your likes and comments—all of this lives on servers in the United States. A Chinese government official can't call up Tik Tok's engineers and demand access to this data. The company's US operations now function with data governance that's independent from its parent company.

But here's where you need to be realistic: Tik Tok still collects a lot of data. Your location when you use the app. The specific videos you pause on and how long you watch them. Your device information, IP address, and technical identifiers. Information about what you search for. This isn't unique to Tik Tok—Instagram, Tik Tok's rival, collects similar information. But Tik Tok's data collection is notably granular, which is part of why its algorithm is so effective at predicting what you want to watch.

The new agreement doesn't eliminate data collection. It restricts where that data goes and who can access it. Your information can still be used to personalize your feed, sell targeted ads, and improve Tik Tok's services. Those are the company's core business functions. What changes is that a Chinese government with different privacy standards can't access it, and American regulators can audit how it's being used.

For users concerned about Tik Tok specifically collecting data for surveillance purposes on behalf of the Chinese government, the deal substantially addresses that risk. For users worried about any tech company collecting data period, the deal doesn't change the fundamental game. You're still the product being optimized for engagement.

Political Safeguards and Content Moderation Controls

The finalized agreement includes language around content moderation that deserves careful attention. Here's what got locked in:

Tik Tok's content moderation decisions—what posts get flagged, what gets recommended, what violates community guidelines—must be made independently by the US operation without direction from Byte Dance. This is significant because before, the company could theoretically be pressured by Chinese authorities to suppress certain content.

The agreement also addresses what some call "shadow banning"—the practice of quietly reducing a post's visibility without the user knowing. Tik Tok has been accused of suppressing content about sensitive Chinese political topics, LGBTQ+ content in conservative regions, or content critical of the Chinese government. Under the new framework, content moderation decisions are auditable. If Tik Tok suppresses a post, there needs to be a documented reason aligned with its community guidelines, not political directives.

Now here's the tricky part: this doesn't mean Tik Tok becomes a free speech utopia. The company still sets the rules, decides what's allowed, and can enforce those rules however it wants within its terms of service. But those rules and enforcement now have to align with stated policies, not hidden political agendas.

For creators, this means more predictability. You can understand why content gets flagged based on publicly stated guidelines rather than mysterious algorithmic suppression. For researchers studying content moderation, this means actual access to moderation data to study bias and effectiveness.

The deal also establishes reporting requirements to US regulators. Tik Tok must regularly disclose information about content moderation requests from any government, content removals, and account suspensions. This creates accountability that other platforms don't face to the same degree.

The Timeline: When Does This Actually Change

Here's the practical timeline you should understand:

The finalized agreement includes a transition period for the ownership transfer. We're not talking about immediate upheaval. Tik Tok's US operations continue essentially as-is while negotiations proceed for a buyer or restructuring.

The data segregation requirements have already begun implementation. Much of the technical work to isolate US data has been underway, and the final agreement clarifies that this must be completed and verified by specific dates. We're talking months, not years, for the technical separation to be fully finalized and audited.

Algorithmic auditing starts as soon as the new ownership structure is in place. This isn't something that waits five years—independent auditors begin examining the recommendation system once the legal transfer happens.

The most uncertain timeline involves finding an acceptable buyer. If the current negotiations drag on, if regulators reject a proposed buyer, if the new owner wants to substantially change Tik Tok's operations—all of those could cause delays. But the framework is clear: this isn't open-ended uncertainty anymore.

What about the risk of shutdown? It's substantially lower now. Before, the threat was "divest or shut down by this date." Now there's an actual agreement in place. That doesn't eliminate all risk—future political pressure could theoretically reopen negotiations—but it dramatically reduces the "Tik Tok might just disappear tomorrow" scenario that haunted users for months.

What This Means for Competing Platforms and the Broader Tech Industry

The Tik Tok deal doesn't exist in isolation. It's a massive signal to every tech company, every country with regulations, and every government that wants to control tech platforms operating within its borders.

For Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, the deal raises a question: if Tik Tok can be forced to change its ownership structure, can we be next? The short answer is probably no—Meta is already an American company with American ownership, so different rules apply. But the precedent matters. If a president decides any tech platform poses a national security risk, the playbook now exists.

For international tech companies, the message is clear: If you want to operate in the US, you need to respect American regulatory requirements around data, algorithms, and corporate structure. This is moving the US toward a more protectionist tech stance, similar to what Europe has been doing with regulations like GDPR.

For startups and smaller platforms, the deal creates an interesting dynamic. It raises the bar for regulatory compliance (expensive), but it also demonstrates that even massive, wildly popular platforms can be forced to restructure if governments demand it. This might actually advantage well-capitalized American startups over foreign competitors.

The precedent also affects how countries view social media platforms geopolitically. China could theoretically apply the same logic to American tech companies operating there—demand ownership changes, algorithmic transparency, or data localization as conditions for operating in Chinese markets. Some analysts expect exactly that as a response to the Tik Tok deal.

Longer term, expect to see more countries implementing similar requirements. If the US can mandate algorithmic audits, other democracies will likely follow. This could fragment the internet into regional versions optimized for different regulatory frameworks, similar to how some companies operate different versions of products in Europe versus the US.

Implementation Challenges: Why This Isn't Simple

Let's be honest about what's actually difficult here. The finalized agreement outlines clear goals, but executing them at Tik Tok's scale presents genuine technical and organizational challenges.

First, consider data segregation at Tik Tok's scale. The platform processes millions of video uploads daily, billions of user interactions, and petabytes of video content. Moving this to completely separate infrastructure while maintaining service quality, performance, and reliability is genuinely hard. It requires duplicate systems, new data centers, redundancy architecture—this isn't a software update, it's building essentially a second Tik Tok.

Second, algorithmic independence means Tik Tok's US operation needs its own machine learning infrastructure. The company has been leveraging Byte Dance's AI research and computing resources. Now that needs to happen independently. This means hiring more researchers, building more expensive infrastructure, potentially duplicating R&D efforts. It's expensive.

Third, regulatory oversight requires building new processes that tech companies don't typically have. Regular algorithmic audits by third parties mean opening up systems that are normally kept confidential. It means creating audit logs, maintaining transparency documentation, and potentially defending moderation decisions to government officials. This is unfamiliar territory for most tech companies.

Fourth, the ownership transfer is organizationally chaotic. Employees don't know if they'll still have jobs. Teams might be restructured. New leadership might have different priorities. The uncertainty itself creates risk that the platform might degrade in quality during the transition.

Fifth, there's the question of strategic direction. Will Tik Tok's new American owner want to keep the product exactly as-is, or change it significantly? If a buyer wants to modify the algorithm to surface different content, reduce recommendation power, or integrate it with other products, that requires major work.

Impact on Content Creators and the Creator Economy

For the millions of people who earn money on Tik Tok, the finalized deal presents both opportunity and risk.

Opportunity first: Platform stability is finally clearer. The months of uncertainty about whether Tik Tok would shut down made it risky to invest in Tik Tok as a primary income source. With the deal finalized, creators have more confidence that the platform will exist in six months and a year. You can make longer-term content strategies without the existential risk of the platform disappearing.

The Creator Fund, which pays creators based on video performance, becomes more predictable. If Tik Tok is financially stable and has clear ownership, there's more certainty about payout rates and program eligibility. Brands can confidently invest in Tik Tok creator partnerships knowing the platform isn't about to vanish.

But here's the risk side: If Tik Tok's new US owner decides to change the algorithm's behavior—maybe to surface different types of content, or to reduce the "addictive" recommendation patterns that made Tik Tok famous—creator earnings could shift dramatically. A creator who's built an audience around one type of content might suddenly see dramatically reduced visibility if algorithmic recommendations change.

There's also the question of whether a US-owned Tik Tok maintains the same creative culture. Tik Tok's algorithm famously doesn't care about follower count—a new creator can go viral immediately if their content resonates. That democratic approach has drawn creators away from platforms like Instagram where follower count heavily influences algorithmic reach. If the new owner changes that philosophy, it fundamentally alters what makes Tik Tok attractive to creators.

Longer term, US regulation and ownership could actually improve protections for creators. If Tik Tok is under US regulatory oversight, there might be mandated transparency about how the platform calculates payouts, what factors affect visibility, and protections against arbitrary account suspension.

National Security Arguments and Whether They Hold Up

The original justification for forcing Tik Tok's divestment was national security. The argument: Tik Tok's data could be used by the Chinese government for surveillance, blackmail, or spreading propaganda. Let's examine whether the finalized deal actually addresses these concerns.

The data isolation piece is real and meaningful. If your Tik Tok data is on US servers and a Chinese government official asks for access, they can't get it. This substantially reduces the risk that your personal information is being collected specifically for surveillance purposes by a foreign government.

But here's the nuance: governments have other ways to obtain data. If the Chinese government wanted information about Americans, they could attempt to hack into US servers, pressure individuals, or use other intelligence methods. Data being on US servers doesn't make it impossible for foreign governments to access—it just makes it illegal and requires more effort. The question is whether the effort barrier is enough.

The algorithmic transparency piece also addresses national security arguments. The concern was that Tik Tok's algorithm could be secretly manipulated to suppress certain content or amplify propaganda. Regular audits make that harder to do without detection. But again, there's nuance: audits are periodic, not real-time, so manipulation could happen between audits if discovered auditors miss it.

The honest assessment: The finalized deal substantially reduces the most obvious national security risks, but doesn't eliminate them completely. Perfect security doesn't exist. The question is whether the residual risk is acceptable, and apparently, US policymakers decided it was.

One argument gets less attention: Economic competition. Some analysts view Tik Tok as a national security threat partly because it's wildly successful and American companies are jealous. If the deal was really just about data security, there would be less insistence on US ownership and more focus purely on data segregation. The ownership requirement suggests the goal includes keeping Tik Tok's enormous value and influence in American hands.

International Implications: What Happens Globally

The Tik Tok deal in the US doesn't exist in isolation. Governments worldwide are watching and considering similar actions.

The European Union has already been implementing strict regulations on social media platforms through GDPR and the Digital Services Act. The Tik Tok deal gives them a precedent for going further—potentially demanding ownership changes or data localization from any platform they view as problematic.

India banned Tik Tok outright in 2020, so the US deal doesn't affect Indian users. But it validates India's approach—if the world's largest economy thinks Tik Tok poses risks, India's ban looks prescient rather than extreme.

Canada, the UK, Australia, and other allies are all considering similar requirements. The playbook now exists: demand divestment, mandate data localization, require algorithmic transparency, or face exclusion from the market.

For Byte Dance, the Chinese parent company, the global picture is challenging. Tik Tok is its crown jewel, and being forced to give up US operations is a major loss. Multiply that risk across multiple markets, and the company's international growth strategy gets severely constrained.

The interesting wild card: Will China retaliate? The Chinese government could restrict American tech companies operating in China, demand similar ownership changes for Apple or Microsoft, or increase regulatory pressure on their operations. Economic relations between the US and China were already tense—the Tik Tok deal adds another layer.

Key Unknowns and What Still Needs Clarification

The finalized agreement is comprehensive, but several critical questions remain unanswered:

Who will actually own Tik Tok's US operations? The deal requires divestment, but the specific buyer hasn't been publicly announced as of this writing. Different buyers have vastly different implications for the platform's future.

How exactly will algorithmic auditing work? The agreement mandates transparency, but the specific audit procedures, frequency, and who conducts them need clarification. Will it be government auditors, third-party auditors, or some hybrid approach?

What happens to Tik Tok's international data? The deal addresses US data, but Tik Tok operates globally. How does US data segregation work when users in other countries interact with American users? How is that data handled?

Will the business model change? Will a new US owner monetize Tik Tok differently? Reduce ads, increase paywalls, change content recommendations? The uncertainty creates risk for creators and advertisers.

How will this affect Tik Tok's competition with other platforms? If Tik Tok operates under stricter regulatory oversight than Meta, Google, or others, does that disadvantage it or level the playing field?

Estimated data shows ByteDance's ownership in TikTok US reduced to 20%, with US investors holding the majority stake at 60%, and other foreign investors at 20%. This shift aims to address data security and foreign ownership concerns.

What This Means for Your Tik Tok Experience Going Forward

Here's the practical summary: Your Tik Tok experience probably won't change dramatically in the short term. The platform will continue functioning, your For You page will keep showing you videos, and content creators will keep posting.

But structurally, beneath the surface, things are shifting. Your data is increasingly protected from foreign government access. The algorithm's decision-making is becoming auditable. The platform's ownership is transitioning from a Chinese company to an American entity. These changes happen largely invisibly to regular users, but they're significant.

If you were one of the millions of Americans who worried about Tik Tok shutting down, that specific risk is substantially lower. If you're a creator earning income from Tik Tok, the platform's stability is clearer. If you were concerned about your data being accessed by the Chinese government, that specific risk is reduced.

But new risks emerge. A new ownership structure might mean changes to the product, the algorithm, the culture, or the user experience. Regulatory oversight might slow down feature development or innovation. The transition process itself creates uncertainty.

The honest take: The finalized deal is probably better than the previous status quo, but it's not a perfect solution and it's not consequence-free. Tech policy rarely is.

The TikTok US deal primarily focuses on reducing surveillance risks and enhancing algorithm transparency, with significant emphasis on platform stability and regulatory certainty. Estimated data.

The Broader Pattern: Is This the New Tech Regulation Model?

The Tik Tok deal represents a shift in how democratic governments regulate tech. It's not just blocking or banning platforms anymore—it's conditional operation. You can exist in our market, but on our terms. You need to separate your data, you need to make your algorithm auditable, you need to change your ownership structure.

Expect this to become the standard model. Future tech companies entering the US market might face similar requirements proactively. International companies that want access to US users will need to accept regulatory conditions that American companies might not face to the same extent. This creates an asymmetry in how companies compete.

It also reflects a genuine tension: Democratic governments want the benefits of global tech platforms (innovation, user choice, economic growth) but with the protections of national sovereignty (data security, political independence, cultural values). The Tik Tok deal tries to split the difference.

Whether it succeeds, and whether it becomes a model for other countries, will become clear over the next few years. For now, it's the most significant tech regulation in recent US history, and understanding what it actually does versus what the politics claims is essential.

FAQ

What is the Tik Tok US deal and why was it necessary?

The finalized Tik Tok US deal is an agreement that requires Byte Dance, Tik Tok's Chinese parent company, to divest its majority ownership of Tik Tok's US operations to an American entity. It was deemed necessary by US policymakers due to national security concerns about foreign government access to data and potential algorithmic manipulation for political purposes. The deal establishes specific requirements for data segregation, algorithmic transparency, and regulatory oversight that were previously voluntary or non-existent.

How does data segregation work under the new deal?

Data segregation means that information from American Tik Tok users—viewing history, search queries, location data, device information—is stored on servers physically located in the United States and cannot be accessed by Byte Dance's operations in China without explicit authorization and audit trails. This requires building duplicate infrastructure, establishing secure data barriers, and implementing access controls that prevent casual or covert data transfers to foreign locations. Technical implementation involves network segmentation, encryption protocols, and regular security audits to verify compliance.

What are the benefits of the finalized Tik Tok deal?

The deal provides several significant benefits: substantially reduced risk of foreign government surveillance of American user data, increased transparency about how Tik Tok's recommendation algorithm works through mandatory audits, protection for the platform's stability and continuation of service for 170 million US users, clearer regulatory framework that creates certainty for creators and advertisers, and establishment of precedent for how democratic governments should regulate foreign tech platforms. Additionally, US oversight of content moderation decisions helps prevent hidden political censorship and ensures documented reasons for content suppression align with stated community guidelines rather than governmental pressure.

Will Tik Tok shut down or significantly change after the deal?

The finalized agreement makes immediate shutdown extremely unlikely, though the platform will continue operating during the ownership transition period. Whether Tik Tok significantly changes depends on who the new US owner is—a technology company like Microsoft or Oracle would likely preserve the core experience, while a different type of owner might implement strategic changes. The algorithm's basic function—recommending personalized video content—should remain intact, but recommendations might evolve based on the new owner's priorities and regulatory requirements.

How does algorithmic auditing actually work?

Algorithmic auditing involves third-party or government-authorized auditors examining Tik Tok's recommendation system to verify it operates according to documented principles, identify potential bias, and ensure it's not being manipulated for political purposes. Auditors review code, test the algorithm with various inputs, analyze content moderation patterns, and verify that recommendations align with stated policies. The specific audit procedures—frequency, scope, and auditor qualifications—are still being finalized, but the requirement for regular, documented oversight is now contractually mandated and enforceable.

What are the risks or downsides of the Tik Tok deal?

Potential downsides include possible product degradation during the ownership transition period if the new owner restructures teams or infrastructure, potential changes to the algorithm that might make it less effective at finding content users want to watch, increased compliance costs that might be passed to users or advertisers, the precedent of forced divestment that could eventually apply to other platforms, and the possibility that regulatory oversight itself might slow innovation or feature development compared to platforms with less oversight. Additionally, if the new owner is poorly chosen or less aligned with creator interests, the platform's culture and economic opportunity for creators could change negatively.

How does the Tik Tok deal affect my personal data?

Your personal Tik Tok data is now legally required to stay on US servers and cannot be accessed by Byte Dance or the Chinese government without going through legal processes. However, Tik Tok still collects data about your behavior on the platform—videos you watch, how long you watch them, what you search for, your location, device information—and uses that for personalization and advertising. The deal doesn't reduce data collection; it restricts where that data goes and who can access it. Users who want maximum privacy should still use Tik Tok's privacy settings and assume aggressive data collection like all social platforms employ.

Could the Tik Tok deal affect other social media platforms?

Yes, the deal potentially sets precedent for how governments regulate foreign-owned tech platforms operating in the US. Other platforms might face similar demands for data localization, algorithmic transparency, or ownership restrictions if policymakers determine they pose national security risks. The deal also demonstrates that size and popularity don't protect platforms from government action, which could influence how Meta, Google, and others think about regulatory compliance and political risk. Other countries watching the US approach might implement similar requirements for their own markets.

When will I notice changes to Tik Tok based on this deal?

Most users won't notice significant immediate changes—Tik Tok will continue operating and functioning much as it does today during the transition period. Data segregation is already underway behind the scenes and won't be visible to users. Algorithmic auditing happens through official processes without affecting the user experience. The most visible changes might come after the new ownership is finalized and the new owner implements strategic decisions about product direction, but those timelines are still unclear. Creators might notice changes to recommendation patterns or payout rates if the new owner modifies those systems.

What's the timeline for the Tik Tok ownership transfer?

The finalized agreement provides a transition period for negotiations and completion of the divestment, though specific dates haven't been publicly confirmed. Data segregation requirements are being implemented over coming months with verification deadlines. Algorithmic auditing begins once the new ownership structure is in place. The overall timeline isn't "immediately" but also not "years away"—most analysts expect substantial progress within 6-18 months, though political factors, buyer identification, and technical challenges could extend timelines. The goal is clarity and stability rather than rushed execution.

Estimated data suggests that market access conditions and data separation have the highest impact on tech companies entering the US market under the new regulation model.

The Bottom Line

The finalized Tik Tok US deal is simultaneously straightforward and complex. Straightforward because it's clear: Byte Dance has to give up control of Tik Tok's US operations, data needs to be segregated, and the algorithm needs to be auditable. Complex because implementing those requirements at Tik Tok's scale is genuinely difficult, and the broader implications for tech regulation are still unfolding.

For the 170 million American Tik Tok users, the deal means the platform is more likely to stick around, your data is better protected from foreign government access, and there's at least some transparency into how the algorithm that curates your feed actually works.

For creators, it means platform stability but also uncertainty about how ownership changes might affect earnings and algorithmic reach.

For the tech industry globally, it establishes a new model: operate in democracies on our terms, with our regulatory oversight, or don't operate here at all.

The Tik Tok deal isn't the end of the platform's story in the US—it's the beginning of a new chapter. What happens next depends on who owns it, how well the technical transition executes, and whether the regulatory framework actually achieves what policymakers intended. For now, the deal provides clarity where there was months of uncertainty, and for millions of users, that alone is meaningful.

Key Takeaways

• ByteDance must reduce ownership of TikTok US below 20% and transfer control to an American entity under the finalized deal
• American user data is now legally segregated and cannot be accessed by Chinese government or ByteDance without explicit authorization
• Regular algorithmic audits by third parties and regulators become mandatory, creating unprecedented transparency for social media recommendations
• Platform shutdown risk drops substantially, providing stability for creators and the 170 million US users who rely on TikTok
• The deal sets precedent for how democratic governments regulate foreign tech platforms, likely influencing regulations globally

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