TikTok after the sale in the US: what changed and how to use it safely

Since news broke in late January that TikTok’s US operations would become American-owned, many people who previously avoided the app are reconsidering. The change has reopened conversations among parents, educators and older adults who once viewed TikTok as off-limits due to foreign ownership concerns.

One reader neatly summed up that hesitation in an email we received. It reflects a question that many families are asking at this time.

“I read a summary of the joint venture agreement approved between China (20%) and US investors (80%). We do not have a TikTok account at this time. We have been following the media about the short usefulness and are considering opening an account, once the deal is consummated and control of the accounts is in the hands of the US side. However, we are not tech-savvy and are still concerned about the security of such accounts.”

—Charlie

That concern is understandable. For years, TikTok has raised legitimate questions about foreign ownership, data access and national security. Those concerns were serious enough to prompt government bans, lawsuits and strong warnings to families. Now, that chapter has changed. TikTok’s US operations are now under a US-led ownership structure, in which US investors have a majority stake and operating authority. That change matters. But this does not automatically change the behavior of the platform. The most useful question today is not whether TikTok is allowed. It’s about how to use it wisely, with clear limits and better controls, especially for children and teenagers. That’s what this guide is about.

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What really improves property shifting in the US.

It’s important to recognize what’s different now.

United States governance and control

TikTok’s US operations are no longer controlled by a China-based parent company. This eliminates the risk of direct access under Chinese national security laws.

Stronger regulatory oversight

The platform now operates under the privacy expectations, enforcement standards, and scrutiny of the US Congress. This brings clearer security barriers around data handling.

Clear responsibility

When something goes wrong, the responsibility falls on one jurisdiction. There is no ambiguity about who is responsible for it. This is significant progress, especially for families who have avoided TikTok entirely due to ownership concerns.

What TikTok says that safeguards the new American structure

TikTok says its US operations are now run through TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, a majority US-owned entity created under an executive order signed on September 25, 2025. According to the company, the joint venture is designed to protect US users’ data, secure the recommendation algorithm, and monitor US users’ trust and safety decisions. TikTok says U.S. user data is stored in Oracle’s U.S.-based secure cloud environment and is protected through a comprehensive privacy and cybersecurity program audited and certified by third-party experts.

The company also claims that the recommendation algorithm used for US users is retrained, tested, and secured within the United States. TikTok adds that the joint company has authority to make decisions on trust and safety policies and content moderation for US users, with ongoing transparency reporting and independent oversight. These safeguards focus on where data is stored, who governs it, and how systems are audited, not on eliminating data collection or personalization.

What hasn’t changed at all

Here’s the part that many people overlook.

Even under new owners, TikTok continues to operate with the same core business model as all major social media platforms.

• Track what you watch and how long you watch.
• Learn your interests and habits.
• It uses that information to shape your feed and target advertising.

TikTok remains exceptionally effective at this. Its recommendation system adapts quickly, which explains both its popularity and influence. That power makes privacy settings more important than ever.

A smarter way to use TikTok as a family

Pretending TikTok doesn’t exist rarely works. The children find out from their friends. Adults watch useful videos shared on other platforms. A better approach is to set it up intentionally from the beginning. The steps below do not ruin the experience. They simply reduce unnecessary exposure and give families more control.

Step 1: Prevent TikTok from accessing your contacts

Limiting access to contacts prevents TikTok from mapping your personal network.

How to turn off Contacts and Facebook sync

• OpenThe TikTok app
• touch your profile at the bottom right
• Touch the three line menu at the top right
• Select Settings and privacy
• Click Privacy
• Tap Sync Facebook contacts and friends
• Toggle both options off then gray appears

Why this matters

When contact sync is on, TikTok can know who you know, even if those people never use the app. Turning it off limits how the platform connects your account to real-world relationships, reduces account suggestions tied to your phone book, and helps prevent your personal network from becoming part of TikTok’s data profile.

Step 2: Reduce ad targeting

You will continue to see ads. They will be less dependent on activity outside of TikTok.

How to turn off ad tracking outside of TikTok

• Open the tiktok app
• go to your profile at the bottom right of the screen
• Click three line menu at the top right
• Tap Settings and privacy
• Scroll to ads aand touch it
• Under Manage your data outside of TikTok, toggle Targeted ads outside of TikTok off so it turns gray
• If available, also toggle Targeted ads disabled to further limit customization

Why this matters

Turning them off reduces how TikTok uses data collected beyond the app to personalize advertising. You’ll still see ads, but they’ll be less tied to your browsing and app activity elsewhere.

Step 3: Make your account private

This step is especially important for children and adolescents. A private account limits who can view content, comment and interact.

How to make your account private

• Open the tiktok app
• go to your profile at the bottom right of the screen
• Click three line menu at the top right
• Tap Settings and privacy
• Click Privacy
• Lever Private Account turned on to turn blue
• Lever Activity status off so it turns gray

Why this matters

A private account allows you to control who can see your content and interact with you. This is especially important for children and teenagers, as it reduces exposure to strangers, spam accounts, and unwanted messages.

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Step 4: Control how people can find you

TikTok suggests accounts based on contacts, phone numbers, and shared connections unless you stop it.

How to turn off account suggestions

• Open the tiktok app
• go to your profile at the bottom right of the screen
• Touch the three line menu at the top right
• Tap Settings and privacy
• Click Privacy
• Tap Suggest your account to others
• Turn off all options

Why this matters

Account suggestions are typically based on phone numbers, contacts, and shared connections. Turning them off makes it harder for TikTok to link your account to your offline identity or show it to people you didn’t choose to connect with.

Step 5: Hide what you like and follow it

Likes and followers send signals about your interests and habits. Keeping them private adds another layer of protection.

How to hide your activity

• Open the tiktok app
• go to your profile at the bottom right of the screen
• Touch the three line menu at the top right
• Tap Settings and privacy
• Click Privacy
• Tap Next list in Interactions
• Set it to only you

Why this matters

Likes and followers reveal interests, habits, and patterns over time. Keeping them private limits how much others can infer about you and reduces the data signals that TikTok can amplify across the platform.

Step 6: Download your TikTok data

This step often changes the way people view the platform.

How to request your TikTok data

• Open the tiktok app
• go to your profile at the bottom right of the screen
• Touch the three line menu at the top right
• Tap Settings and privacy
• Tap Account
• Tap Download your data
• Low Request datareview the types of information included and click the box next to him or select all
• Choose a file format
• Tap Request data

TikTok will start preparing your file. This process usually takes a few days. Once your data is ready, you need to return to the Download Data tab to recover it. The download link expires after a short period, so check back periodically.

Why this matters

Requesting your data shows the full scope of what TikTok stores about your account, from activity patterns to interaction history. Seeing that information firsthand helps you decide if the level of tracking aligns with how you want to use the platform.

Pro Tip: Protect yourself beyond app settings

Privacy settings help, but they can’t stop everything. Social media platforms like TikTok are common delivery points for malicious links, fake giveaways, and similar login pages designed to steal passwords or install malware. Using powerful, up-to-date antivirus software adds a critical layer of protection by blocking dangerous downloads and sites before a single click becomes a problem. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

Get my picks for the best antivirus protection winners of 2026 for your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?

Do you think your devices and data are really protected? Take this quick quiz to see where you stand digitally. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right and what you need. improved editing. Take my quiz here: Cyberguy.com.

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Kurt’s Key Takeaways

TikTok says new safeguards protect where U.S. data resides and who controls it. Your personal settings still determine how much data exists in the first place. Ownership changes reduce certain risks, but do not replace personal responsibility. Privacy on TikTok depends much more on how you configure it than on who owns it. If you’re considering opening an account now that control is in the hands of American investors, start slow, lock down your settings, and review your details ahead of time. That approach keeps you in control and not the algorithm.

If a platform knows that much about you, how much access are they really comfortable giving you? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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