TikTok is sticking around in the U.S. for now. After a lot of debate and political back-and-forth, plus worries about a ban, there’s a possible plan to keep it going for its 170 million users in the country. Oracle might have a big part to play in this.
Oracle, which isn’t always thought of in the same way as Amazon or Microsoft when it comes to cloud stuff, is said to be part of a deal that would give the U.S. some say in how TikTok runs here. The idea is to take care of those national security concerns that have been around and to keep one of the most liked apps up and running. This has been a long time coming. Washington has been uneasy about TikTok being owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company. Politicians are concerned about data safety and the chance of the Chinese government getting user info. The Trump administration tried to ban the app, and the Biden administration has been trying to figure things out, too. But so far, nothing has worked, maybe until now.
The current plan in place is being called a middle ground. Instead of making ByteDance sell TikTok completely, which they didn’t want to do, the deal would make a U.S.-run group in charge of TikTok’s business in America. Oracle, with its cloud setup and data storage, would be key in making sure American data stays in the U.S. Other American companies might join in, but right now, everyone is talking about Oracle. For TikTok, it’s all about survival. The app isn’t just liked; it’s part of our culture. Young people use it like a search engine. Small businesses use it to get their products out there. Musicians get their start on it. Shutting it down would change how people connect, watch videos, and make things online.
Oracle’s part is pretty interesting. They’re known for databases and business tools, not popular apps. But when the idea of banning TikTok first came up in 2020, Oracle was mentioned as a possible tech partner that could be trusted. It didn’t happen then, but now the idea is back, and it seems more important. For Oracle, there’s a win. Storing TikTok’s data could help them grow in cloud computing, where they’re behind Amazon and Microsoft. Being involved with one of the most used apps is good for how they look. Larry Ellison, Oracle’s co-founder, has wanted the company to be a bigger name in tech, and this could be his chance.
Still, there are questions. Can this fix Washington’s worries? Some politicians are saying that even with U.S. companies in charge, ByteDance will still have too much say. How these algorithms work, ownership, and connections between countries can be hard to understand. Some people are afraid this is just a short-term fix. And then there’s the question of the rest of the world. If the U.S. does this, what if other countries do the same? India already banned TikTok in 2020. Europe has been watching closely and has privacy concerns, too. A plan focused on the U.S. could mean that TikTok acts like two different companies, with different rules in different countries. But for now, the news is good for many American users. For people who make money on the app, the idea of TikTok disappearing was worrisome. For businesses that use its ads, keeping them up and running is very important.
This isn’t just about fun videos, though. It’s about power. Tech is a key factor in the competition between the U.S. and China: who controls data, who sets the rules, and who gets to make the platforms looking ahead. TikTok is just a clear example. That’s why Oracle’s involvement is a big deal. It shows the U.S. trying to handle digital content without shutting down the app. It’s a compromise, and it also sends a clear message: if you want to do business in the U.S., you’ll do it by our rules.
Of course, the details of the deal still need to be figured out, and people will keep talking about it. But the direction seems clear. TikTok will stay in the U.S., but only if it does what we want. For Oracle, it’s a chance worth taking. For TikTok, it’s a needed opening. And for the U.S. government, it’s a way to feel like they won without starting a fight. So, when things are settled, millions of Americans will keep using TikTok. They might not be thinking about Oracle’s servers or the politics behind it, but those things are what make their experience possible. And that’s the main thing: the story over one of the world’s most popular apps isn’t ending; it’s changing.
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