TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a technology company based in China. ByteDance founded TikTok, and it still manages the app and its business decisions today.

Investors from around the world, company co-founders, and employees also hold shares in ByteDance.

Many people are curious about TikTok’s ownership because of ongoing discussions about its safety and possible restrictions in the United States. Concerns about privacy and control over the company have brought more attention to who actually directs TikTok’s future. Understanding these details can help people make informed decisions about the app they use every day.

Who Owns TikTok

TikTok is owned and managed by the Chinese technology company ByteDance. The company's ownership and business structure involve several global regions and stakeholders.

ByteDance: The Parent Company

ByteDance is a global technology company founded in 2012 by Zhang Yiming in China. It is best known for creating and owning TikTok, as well as other popular apps.

The company is private, meaning it is not traded on a public stock exchange. ByteDance developed TikTok in 2016 and launched it outside China a year later. It also operates Douyin, which is a version of TikTok for users in mainland China.

In addition to TikTok, ByteDance has launched and managed multiple digital platforms across news, education, and entertainment. It continues to expand both its products and its presence in various international markets.

Ownership Structure and Stakeholders

ByteDance is privately held, and its main shareholders are company founders, employees, and several large investment firms. Major investors have included General Atlantic, Sequoia Capital, and SoftBank.

Here is a simple breakdown of ByteDance's ownership:

The Chinese government does not own ByteDance, but it does regulate technology companies from China. According to multiple reliable sources, ByteDance remains controlled by its management and investors.

Location of Headquarters

ByteDance has set up key offices in multiple countries. For global operations, its headquarters are in Singapore and Los Angeles. The company is legally registered in the Cayman Islands.

TikTok has regional offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, and other countries. These offices handle local operations and regulatory issues.

ByteDance’s main Chinese office is in Beijing. However, for privacy and political reasons, TikTok's data centers and business teams are split between several countries outside mainland China. This setup allows TikTok to serve international users while following local laws.

Ownership and Data Protection Concerns

TikTok’s ownership by ByteDance, a company based in China, has led to many concerns about how data is handled and protected. Attention has focused on how user data—such as personal information, location, and IP addresses—is collected and managed by the platform.

National Security and Regulatory Debates

TikTok is owned by ByteDance Ltd., a technology company headquartered in Beijing, China. Lawmakers in the United States and Europe have questioned whether Chinese national security laws could give the Chinese government access to American and European user data.

There have been several proposed laws and even executive actions in the U.S. to force a sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations or ban the app completely. Concerns from regulators center on the chance that TikTok’s data collection could pose risks to national security, especially if sensitive information is shared.

Some argue that moving TikTok’s operations to the U.S. or separating them from ByteDance would solve these problems. However, others note that data privacy concerns are not unique to TikTok and are an issue across most large social media platforms.

Handling of Personal Data

TikTok collects a large amount of personal data from its users. This data includes videos, comments, likes, user profiles, and device information. The company also may store information about user activity, interactions, and preferences to train its recommendation algorithms.

TikTok states that it uses data centers in multiple countries, including the U.S. and Singapore, to store and process user data. This setup is partly meant to address local data protection rules, but some experts remain concerned about the possibility of data being accessed by foreign governments.

Recent regulatory pressure has led TikTok to take steps such as launching “Project Texas” in the U.S., a plan intended to store data only within the country and manage it with oversight from American officials.

User Privacy Settings

TikTok users have access to a range of privacy settings to help control who can view their content and interact with them. These settings allow users to make their accounts private, limit who can comment or direct message, and choose whether videos can be downloaded or shared.

Users can also manage personalized ad settings and review what personal data the app collects or uses. However, some privacy choices may be difficult for younger users to understand, and options might not go far enough to prevent all unwanted data sharing.

Key privacy controls:

• Private vs. public profiles

• Blocking and reporting tools

• Control over direct messaging and comments

Collection and Use of IP Address and Location Data

TikTok collects users’ IP addresses and location data. The platform uses this information to help deliver location-based content, match users with local trends, and display targeted advertisements.

IP addresses and location data can also help with security, such as identifying suspicious activity or blocking logins from unknown places. However, concerns exist about how specific or detailed location data might be and who has access to this information.

Some governments and watchdog groups are worried this data could be used by foreign entities for tracking or profiling users. TikTok says it has controls in place to limit how location data is shared and used, but some users remain skeptical.

Table: Data Collected by TikTok