With a change of ownership in the works, the fate of TikTok’s algorithm – the secret sauce of its success – is up in the air. Whatever happens, changes to the video sharing app are coming.

On Threads, the algorithm-configuration feature is tied to Instagram’s larger efforts to revamp its main app to emphasize Reels and recommendations. Instagram announced Wednesday that it will soon allow users to more directly control the app’s algorithm by choosing which topics they’d like to see more or less of in their feeds.

The White House has answered what had been one of the major outstanding questions regarding its pending deal to transfer TikTok’s US operations to a majority American ownership group: Under the agreement,

If ByteDance is actually forced to sell TikTok, it might not include the app's algorithm. But that might not be a huge issue for a new owner. For You-page recommendations could be recreated. TikTok has said it won't sell — and will fight the ban in court.

“The Chinese government will, according to law, examine and approve relevant matters involving TikTok, such as the export of technology as well as the licensing of intellectual property,” Wang said, adding that Washington and Beijing agreed that Bytedance would entrust a partner with TikTok U.S.’s user data and content security.

Using a sequence of steps to solve a problem. Scientific applications, forecasting, decision making, quantum computing and AI use algorithms routinely. Computer programming is used to implement the logic in an algorithm. The two terms are often used ...

If China sells TikTok to a U.S. buyer without its algorithm, users will notice a difference in functionality, experts say.

Under the current terms of the proposal, the new U.S. joint venture would receive a licensed copy of the recommendation algorithm that keeps TikTok users endlessly scrolling through clips on their smartphones. Oracle would review, monitor and secure U.S. data flowing through the service.

Critics argue the TikTok framework deal preserves Chinese Communist Party influence over the platform's algorithm, posing ongoing national security risks to Americans.

Who's involved in the deal to keep TikTok operating in the U.S.? What will happen to the algorithm? Here's what we know so far.