TikTok’s long-running US ownership saga may be nearing a resolution, with reports suggesting its US operations could shift from ByteDance to a new American-led joint venture as early as January 2026.

So will TikTok be officially banned in the U.S. on Jan. 23, 2026, 368 days after the original ban was said to go ahead? Your guess is as good as ours — but given the evidence of the past year, it probably wouldn't be wise to bet your life savings on it.

The inaugural TikTok Awards will be livestreamed on TikTok and Tubi at 6 p.m. PT on Thursday, Dec. 18. Viewers should RSVP for the livestream on the TikTok website.

After six years, a new law, and a Supreme Court fight, ByteDance’s Project Texas may have won out after all. On Thursday, TikTok parent company ByteDance announced to its staff that it had signed an agreement to sell a portion of TikTok — known as United States Data Services — to a group of mostly U.S.-based investors.

The owner of TikTok has agreed to create a joint venture that will make the popular social media app majority-owned by American investors.

The deal comes more than a year after Congress passed a law that forced its owner ByteDance to divest its US operations or face a ban.