A New TikTok App Could Change Everything for U.S. Users

From monetization to audience reach, this could upend how creators use the platform.

Author

Shira Lazar
July 14, 2025

In partnership with

ByteDance is reportedly planning to launch a standalone U.S. version of TikTok called “M2” by September. Here’s what that means for users, creators, and the future of monetization on the platform, including TikTok Shop.

TikTok’s future in the U.S. has been anything but stable in recent years, and now the biggest shift yet may be just weeks away. 

According to reports from The Information and Reuters, ByteDance—the Chinese parent company of TikTok—is developing a standalone U.S.-only version of the app, internally codenamed “M2,” which could launch as early as Sept. 5, 2025.

The new app is expected to replace the TikTok we currently use, but it’s being built from the ground up—new code, its own data system, and even a different algorithm. It’s all part of ByteDance’s effort to follow a 2024 law that says they either have to sell TikTok’s U.S. business or risk getting the app banned completely.

What We Know About “M2”

  • Launch Timeline: The U.S.-only app is expected to debut on Sept. 5, ahead of a Sept. 17 divestment deadline extended by President Trump.

  • Migration Period: Users won’t be forced to switch immediately. According to The Information, there will be a grace period through March 2026, allowing time for users to migrate from the current version of the app to the new one.

  • U.S.-Only Scope: The new version will be invisible to users outside the United States. Like China’s Douyin (TikTok’s domestic counterpart), this U.S. app will function independently from the global platform.

  • Data & Algorithm Split: “M2” will reportedly use only American user data to power its algorithms, effectively separating it from TikTok’s global systems. ByteDance has been working to move non-U.S. data out of American servers and to separate the codebase behind TikTok’s core recommendation algorithm.

What It Means for Creators and U.S Users

“There are concerns that audiences will also make the move, and if the migration will be worth the effort,” Jennie Smythe, CEO of Girlilla Marketing, told CNET. “

If “M2” launches, U.S. users will be cut off from the global version of TikTok. Content, comments, and communities will be siloed, meaning you likely won’t be able to view or interact with posts from users in Canada, Mexico, or anywhere else outside the U.S.

Being cut off from the global audience would directly impact viewership, monetization opportunities, depending on where your audience is, and brand deals, too, extending beyond the US.

And then there’s TikTok Shop, the place where so many creators are actually making their money. Between affiliate links, live selling, and product drops, it’s become a huge part of the platform. I’ll be real: my company, What’s Trending, is about to launch our own TikTok Shop, and I’ve heard incredible things about its revenue potential. I’m really hoping this shift doesn’t stall that opportunity.

Bytedance Responds to Reports

TikTok responded to the reports, calling them “factually inaccurate” and based on “anonymous, uninformed sources.” But they didn’t clarify which parts are incorrect—whether it’s the timeline, the “M2” codename, or the claim that a separate app is in development. The lack of detail leaves the door open: something is likely in motion, even if it’s not exactly what’s been reported.

On the other hand, a potential selloff could involve a joint venture between ByteDance’s current U.S. investors (such as KKR, SIG, and General Atlantic) and new backers like Oracle and Andreessen Horowitz. ByteDance would reportedly retain a minority stake, although China has yet to sign off on the arrangement.

I’ve been covering this saga for months now, and the pressure on ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations has only gotten more intense. President Trump has pushed back the deadline several times and says he’s got a group of “very wealthy people” ready to buy TikTok. This is all still TBD…

So, What’s Next?

With just two months to go before this latest deadline, TikTok’s future in the U.S. is still up in the air. If ByteDance pulls off the launch of “M2” without a full sale, it could satisfy U.S. legal requirements while keeping the app alive.

🔥My hot take: Whether it’s called “M2” or not, a U.S.-only TikTok is coming if ByteDance doesn’t sell—and even if they do, big changes are on the horizon. Creators: stay alert, stay flexible, and keep building beyond one platform.

Shira Lazar

Other headlines to check out:

AI

Creator Economy

Web3 

 🎧 New Episode of The AI Download: Artists Over Algorithms: Jaeson Ma on the AI-Powered Future of Music

The music industry is broken and many continue to launch companies attempting to fix it. On this episode of The AI Download, I sit down with Jaeson Ma, CEO & co-founder of OpenWav, a platform that’s reimagining what it means to be an independent artist in 2025.

Co-founded by the legendary Wyclef Jean, OpenWav gives creators a label in their pocket—combining AI, Web3, and on-demand merch to help artists own their creativity, build real superfans, and get paid.

If you’re a musician, creator, or building a business around your brand, you need to hear Jaeson’s take on the current landscape and what’s to come.

🎙️ Listen now to get caught up on the AI headlines you need to know plus insights on future of life, creativity and culture.

"The best way to predict the future is to create it." - Peter Drucker

Advertise with Us

Remember, I'm Bullish on you!

With gratitude,

Find out why 1M+ professionals read Superhuman AI daily.

In 2 years you will be working for AI

Or an AI will be working for you

Here's how you can future-proof yourself:

  1. Join the Superhuman AI newsletter – read by 1M+ people at top companies

  2. Master AI tools, tutorials, and news in just 3 minutes a day

  3. Become 10X more productive using AI

Join 1,000,000+ pros at companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon that are using AI to get ahead.