TikTok's American Transformation Faces User Backlash and Technical Glitches
The popular short-form video platform TikTok has completed its much-discussed transition from Chinese ownership to becoming a majority US-owned application. However, this high-profile corporate shift appears to be encountering significant resistance from its user base, with new data revealing a substantial increase in account deletions and growing privacy concerns among American users.
Surge in App Deletions Following Ownership Announcement
According to comprehensive data from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower, reported by CNBC, the establishment of the new American-led joint venture has triggered an unexpected backlash. In the crucial five-day period immediately following the announcement of TikTok's ownership restructuring, daily app deletions among US users surged by nearly 150% compared to the average deletion rates observed during the previous three months.
This dramatic increase represents one of the most significant user reactions to corporate changes in recent social media history, suggesting that the platform's American transformation has not been universally welcomed by its existing community.
Privacy Policy Changes Fuel User Concerns
The report indicates that the user exodus began shortly after the newly-formed TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC prompted users to accept an updated privacy policy. While the platform maintains that the language regarding data collection has been present in its policies since at least August 2024, the timing of the policy update alongside the ownership change has created a perception of increased surveillance under American management.
The updated policy explicitly mentions TikTok's potential collection of sensitive personal information, including details about racial or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity (specifically transgender or nonbinary status), citizenship or immigration status, and comprehensive financial information. This expanded transparency about data practices, while technically not new, has nevertheless sparked widespread concern among privacy-conscious users.
Creator Exodus and Platform Disruptions
Prominent content creators have joined the protest against the platform's new direction. Influencer Dre Ronayne made headlines by publicly announcing their departure from TikTok despite having built an audience of nearly 400,000 followers. In a statement that resonated across social media, Ronayne declared, "If I can delete my biggest platform because their terms of agreement and censorship have gotten out of control, so can you!"
Compounding user frustrations, the platform has experienced widespread technical issues over recent days. Numerous users and creators have reported persistent outages and failed video uploads, disrupting content creation and consumption. An official X account associated with the joint venture attributed these service problems to a power outage at a US data center, stating, "We're working with our data center partner to stabilize our service. We're sorry for this disruption and hope to resolve it soon."
Broader Implications for User Engagement
Despite the surge in deletions, Sensor Tower's data analysis reveals that TikTok's overall active user levels in the United States have remained relatively stable compared to the previous week. This suggests that while a vocal segment of users is abandoning the platform, the broader user base continues to engage with the application, creating a complex landscape for the newly American-owned company.
The situation presents significant challenges for TikTok's management as they navigate the delicate balance between corporate restructuring, user privacy expectations, platform stability, and community trust in an increasingly competitive social media environment.
