Many TikTok users across the United States are reconsidering their relationship with the popular social media platform. Recent changes in ownership and terms of service have sparked concerns about privacy and censorship, leading some users to abandon the app altogether.
Keara Sullivan, a 26-year-old comedian, credits TikTok with launching her career and helping her secure a manager and a literary agent. “I’m not one of those creators who’s a TikTok hater,” Sullivan said, who boasts over half a million followers. “I’m very transparent about the fact that where I am in my career is largely because of TikTok.” Despite this, Sullivan finds it “really sad” to step away from the platform, at least temporarily.
Ownership Changes and Privacy Concerns
TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has faced intense scrutiny following its decision to establish a new US-based entity, TikTok USDS Joint Venture. This move aims to prevent a potential ban in the United States. The new entity is majority-owned by US investors, including Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi’s MGX, controlling 80.1% of the venture, while ByteDance retains 19.9% ownership.
The announcement comes five years after former President Donald Trump first threatened to ban TikTok during his term. The app’s new deal has been accompanied by updates to its terms and conditions, technical issues, and a growing debate over privacy and censorship. According to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower, the daily average of US users deleting TikTok increased by 195% from January 22 to January 28 compared to the previous 90 days.
Many users are concerned about the app’s data collection practices, which include sensitive information such as “racial and ethnic origin” and “sexual life or sexual orientation, status as transgender or nonbinary, citizenship or immigration status, or financial information.”
Censorship and Content Suppression
Julia, a 32-year-old caregiver from Washington, deleted TikTok immediately after learning about the new ownership agreement. “I trust Oracle and Ellison about as much as I trust eating a raw burger on a hot summer day,” she remarked.
Following the killing of Alex Pretti by ICE agents on January 24, some creators voiced concerns that TikTok was suppressing videos critical of the federal agency. Comedian Meg Stalter shared on Instagram that her video urging Christians to speak out against ICE tactics was not being uploaded to TikTok, prompting her to delete the app.
California Governor Gavin Newsom also expressed concerns about potential censorship, stating on X, “Following TikTok’s sale to a Trump-aligned business group, our office has received reports, and independently confirmed instances, of suppressed content critical of President Trump.” Newsom announced an investigation into whether TikTok is violating California law by censoring anti-Trump content.
Technical Issues and User Experience
TikTok USDS Joint Venture attributed recent technical issues to a power outage at a US datacenter, unrelated to the weekend’s events. On January 27, the entity stated, “We’ve made significant progress in recovering our U.S. infrastructure with our U.S. data center partner. However, the U.S. user experience may still have some technical issues, including when posting new content. We’re committed to bringing TikTok back to its full capacity as soon as possible.”
A 21-year-old software engineer, who requested anonymity, first encountered TikTok in 2020. “I was amazed how quickly it learned my interests,” he said. Despite using the app for four hours daily, he noticed a decline in recommendation quality after TikTok’s temporary shutdown in January 2025. “I didn’t like how the pop-up message painted Trump as the ‘savior’ that would bring back TikTok once he was in office,” he added.
Implications and Future Prospects
Sullivan also observed significant changes following TikTok’s brief blackout, including reduced income from the Creator Fund. She decided to diversify her content distribution after noticing potential censorship issues, such as the banning of Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda, who had 1.4 million followers.
“In the internet ecosphere, you kind of have to create these different avenues for yourself, because you can’t rely on one platform,” Sullivan explained. “The algorithm could change at any time.”
As TikTok navigates these challenges, users and creators alike are left weighing the benefits of the platform against the potential risks to privacy and freedom of expression. The ongoing developments will likely shape the future of TikTok’s presence in the US and influence the broader conversation around digital privacy and platform accountability.
