President Donald Trump said on his social media platform that a meeting between U.S. and Chinese officials went well and that a deal was reached involving “a ‘certain’ company that young people in our Country very much wanted to save.”
Trump’s remark appeared to refer to TikTok, the Chinese-owned social media app that U.S. law has required to be sold or cease operations. The Republican president has repeatedly extended deadlines regarding TikTok’s future and remained noncommittal on any agreement when questioned by reporters Sunday evening. He also said he plans to speak with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday. China has not immediately confirmed the report.
TikTok is one of over 100 apps developed by ByteDance, a technology company founded in 2012 by Chinese entrepreneur Zhang Yiming and headquartered in Beijing’s Haidian district. ByteDance launched Douyin, a short-form video platform, in China in 2016 and later introduced TikTok for international users. The company then acquired Musical.ly, a lip-syncing app popular among teens in the U.S. and Europe, merging it with TikTok while keeping it separate from Douyin.
The app quickly gained popularity in the U.S. and other countries, becoming the first Chinese platform to make a significant impact in the West. Unlike other social media platforms focused on connecting users, TikTok tailored content to individual interests. Its often playful videos and music clips gave the platform a reputation as a fun, authentic space online, helping launch the careers of artists such as Lil Nas X.
TikTok’s popularity surged during COVID-19 lockdowns, with viral short dances becoming a staple of the app. Competitors Instagram and YouTube later introduced their own short-form video tools, Reels and Shorts, to capture some of TikTok’s audience.
Despite its success, TikTok has faced challenges. U.S. officials have raised concerns about its Chinese ownership, citing laws that require Chinese companies to provide data to the government. Another point of concern is TikTok’s proprietary algorithm that determines the content users see.