Algorithms not for sale: ByteDance may shutdown TikTok in the U.S. if legal options fail

A shut-down would have limited impact on ByteDance’s business while the company would not have to give up its core algorithm.

TikTok owner ByteDance would prefer shutting down its loss-making app rather than sell it if the Chinese company exhausts all legal options to fight legislation to ban the platform from app stores in the U.S., four sources said.