January 2026 Social Media Updates You Need to Know

The start of 2026 is already bringing meaningful changes across social platforms. Here are the January 2026 social media updates you need to know.
TikTok’s U.S. Operations Officially Sold to American Investors
In January 2026, TikTok confirmed the creation of TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, a new U.S.-based entity formed to comply with federal requirements around national security and data protection.
Under this structure, ByteDance now owns less than 20% of TikTok’s U.S. operations, while the remaining ownership sits with a group of American investors led by Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX. Oracle will also serve as TikTok’s trusted security partner, overseeing data protection, algorithm oversight, and compliance.
The new entity will oversee content moderation, data handling, and algorithm security, with ByteDance no longer having access to U.S. user data or control over the U.S. algorithm.
At the same time, TikTok rolled out an updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, prompting renewed attention to how the platform collects and uses data.
While much of the language mirrors previous policies, the updated version more explicitly acknowledges the collection of precise location data (depending on user settings). TikTok also expanded language around third-party advertising and added clearer rules for generative AI content, including labeling requirements and restrictions on AI misuse.
Users are already expressing concern over the new Terms of Service and other changes, with some claiming that TikTok U.S. may now be censoring certain content.
Why This Matters for Marketers
- Data governance and privacy transparency are becoming more explicit
- Ad targeting language has expanded, including off-platform advertising
- AI-generated content rules are tightening across platforms
- Users could start leaving the platform as they become more distrustful of how TikTok U.S. will handle location data and oversee the algorithm
TikTok Expands Marketing Partner Support
TikTok introduced a new Channel Sales Partner tier within its Marketing Partners Program. This update is designed to help small and mid-sized businesses access more specialized support for TikTok advertising and campaign execution.
The initial group includes six established marketing platforms across North America and Europe, all vetted to meet TikTok’s technical and operational standards.
Why This Matters for Marketers
- TikTok is doubling down on small and medium-sized business growth and advertiser adoption
- Brands gain easier access to platform-trained experts
- Paid TikTok campaigns become more accessible for smaller teams
Meta Complies With Australia’s Teen Social Media Ban
Meta confirmed it has removed more than 540,000 accounts in Australia, believed to belong to users under the age of 16. The move follows Australia’s new social media law, which requires platforms to take “reasonable steps” to restrict underage access or face significant fines.
The policy applies to major platforms including Instagram, Facebook, and Threads. Meta has also announced plans to integrate AgeKey verification technology in 2026, allowing users to verify their age through ID, facial estimation, or digital wallets. Meta continues to advocate for age verification to occur at the app store level, creating consistent enforcement across platforms.
Why This Matters for Marketers
- Audience demographics may shift as age restrictions expand
- More regions are likely to explore similar regulations
- Platform compliance requirements could influence future feature rollouts
OpenAI May Be Considering a Pinterest Acquisition
A predictions post from The Information suggested OpenAI may be considering acquiring Pinterest. This would come as part of a broader effort to secure more human-generated data, particularly around product discovery and search behavior.
Unlike competitors such as Meta and Google, OpenAI lacks its own social or search network. Pinterest’s large, intent-driven audience and strong commerce signals could help power AI tools focused on shopping, discovery, and advertising.
Why This Matters for Marketers
- AI platforms are competing aggressively for real user data
- Social, search, and shopping continue to merge
- Pinterest’s role as a discovery engine could expand
Ready to Put These Updates Into Action?
Social media changes fast, but you don’t have to keep up alone. If you’re unsure how these platform updates should impact your content, paid strategy, or creator partnerships, we’re here to help.
Connect with the Random team to start building a smarter social strategy.






