In its inaugural week under American ownership, TikTok has stumbled through a series of crises, leaving users questioning the app’s future. The social media giant, which boasts over a billion users globally, is grappling with a major outage, accusations of censorship, and the emergence of a rival platform that promises greater user freedom.
A Shaky Transition
The tumultuous journey began on 22 January 2026, when TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, completed a controversial deal selling the platform to a consortium of US investors, including tech behemoth Oracle. While TikTok had thrived under Chinese control, amassing a massive user base and overshadowing competitors like Instagram, the app’s new chapter has been anything but smooth.
Almost immediately after the transfer, TikTok’s updated privacy policy raised eyebrows. The new guidelines allowed for extensive data collection, including precise location tracking of users. This shift sparked concern among users unfamiliar with the intentions of its new American owners, particularly billionaire Larry Ellison, a prominent supporter of Donald Trump.
Outages and Accusations
As the app tried to find its footing, it was hit by a perfect storm of challenges. A severe winter storm, dubbed Winter Storm Fern, wreaked havoc across the US, affecting Oracle’s data centres that support TikTok. Users reported being unable to upload videos or facing stagnant view counts, despite having substantial followings.
Simultaneously, the app became a battleground for political discourse. Following the tragic killing of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by federal immigration officers, prominent figures—including California state senator Scott Weiner and musician Billie Eilish—attempted to voice their outrage through TikTok. However, many found their posts either invisible or inaccessible. The ensuing backlash was swift and loud, with accusations of the app suppressing critical content leading to a wave of users threatening to delete their accounts. Comedian Meg Stalter, who has nearly 280,000 followers, announced her departure, further fuelling the fire.
Media outlets quickly caught on, with major publications questioning whether TikTok was engaging in censorship. Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut weighed in, labelling the perceived suppression of dissenting voices as a “threat to democracy.”
Government Scrutiny and Rising Competition
Under mounting pressure, TikTok released a statement on 26 January, attributing the service disruptions to the winter weather. Oracle later confirmed that a power outage linked to the storm had caused the issues. However, this defence did little to quell the growing discontent among users, many of whom began migrating to a new competitor, Upscrolled. This fresh platform has quickly surged to the top of app store rankings, promising fewer restrictions and drawing in over a million users in record time.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has also taken an interest, announcing an investigation into TikTok’s handling of videos critical of Trump, further complicating the app’s already troubled narrative.
The Road Ahead
The confluence of events in TikTok’s first week has eroded user trust and raised questions about its future trajectory in the US market. Once a dominant force in the social media landscape, TikTok now finds itself battling allegations of censorship and a decline in user engagement, with its position threatened by emerging competitors.
With its immense global following, TikTok is unlikely to vanish entirely. However, the cracks in its foundation are evident, and any further misstep could lead to more profound repercussions.
Why it Matters
The unfolding saga of TikTok under American ownership is more than just a story of corporate transition; it is a reflection of broader societal tensions regarding privacy, censorship, and digital freedom. As users demand transparency and accountability, TikTok’s struggles serve as a critical reminder of the delicate balance social media platforms must maintain in an increasingly polarized world. The outcome of this conflict could set significant precedents for how technology companies operate in the future, influencing not only user experiences but also the political landscape in which these platforms exist.
