TikTok is experiencing a noticeable rise in app deletions among U.S. users following its announcement that the platform’s American operations will be shifted into a newly formed joint venture. While the company has framed the move as a long-term solution to regulatory uncertainty, early indicators suggest that the announcement has unsettled sections of its user base, particularly creators and privacy-conscious users.
Data from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower shows that the average daily number of U.S. users uninstalling TikTok has surged by nearly 150% over the past five days when compared with the average from the previous three months. The spike closely followed TikTok’s disclosure of the joint venture, signaling a direct reaction to the news rather than a gradual trend.
Despite the increase in deletions, TikTok’s overall usage levels in the U.S. have not dropped significantly, suggesting that the departures, while notable, have not yet altered the platform’s broader reach.
A New Structure Designed to Keep TikTok in the U.S.
TikTok confirmed last week that it had finalized a joint venture that would place its U.S. operations under new American leadership. The restructuring is intended to allow the app to continue operating in the country amid ongoing political scrutiny and repeated threats of regulatory action against Chinese-owned technology companies.
As part of the transition, TikTok appointed Adam Presser, previously the company’s global head of operations, to serve as chief executive officer of the newly formed U.S. entity. The company has emphasized that the joint venture will operate independently and maintain majority U.S. ownership, a move aimed at addressing concerns raised by lawmakers and regulators.
However, the announcement raised immediate questions among users, many of whom were prompted to accept an updated privacy policy at the same time. For some, the combination of corporate restructuring and revised legal language created confusion about what the changes might mean in practice.
Privacy Policy Review Fuels Renewed Anxiety
Shortly after the joint venture announcement, TikTok users began circulating sections of the platform’s privacy policy across social media. The excerpts highlighted the broad categories of information that TikTok may collect, including personal and demographic data that many users consider highly sensitive.
While the policy language drew renewed scrutiny, archived versions of TikTok’s privacy policy indicate that these provisions are not new and have been included since at least August 2024. The data categories outlined in the document do not represent a recent expansion of TikTok’s data collection practices.
Even so, the timing of the policy reminder — appearing alongside news of a major structural change — appears to have amplified user distrust. For some users, the moment reinforced longstanding concerns about transparency, data governance, and how personal information could be handled under the new arrangement.
Creators Begin to Distance Themselves
As uncertainty spread, several creators publicly announced that they were stepping away from TikTok or reducing their reliance on the platform. These announcements gained traction across competing social media services, where creators described frustration with shifting policies, content moderation concerns, and a lack of communication from TikTok regarding the joint venture’s implications.
While these departures represent only a fraction of TikTok’s creator ecosystem, they highlight the platform’s vulnerability during moments of transition. For creators who depend on social media for income and audience reach, stability and clarity are critical, and any perceived disruption can prompt a move toward diversification.
Technical Problems Deepen Concerns
At the same time, reports of technical issues began circulating among users and creators. Complaints included failed uploads, sluggish performance, and temporary outages that prevented users from accessing or posting content.
These disruptions further fueled speculation about whether the problems were linked to infrastructure changes related to the joint venture. In response, an account associated with TikTok’s U.S. operations stated that the service issues were caused by a power outage at a U.S.-based data center and were not related to moderation or censorship.
TikTok has not provided detailed information about whether additional backend changes are underway as part of the transition, leaving some creators uncertain about what to expect in the weeks ahead.
Engagement Holds Steady Despite Higher Uninstalls
While uninstall activity has climbed sharply, Sensor Tower data indicates that TikTok’s overall U.S. user engagement has remained relatively flat compared with the previous week. This suggests that the increase in deletions has not yet translated into a mass exodus.
The data points to a split reaction: a vocal group of users and creators expressing dissatisfaction, while the majority of TikTok’s audience continues to use the app as normal. Whether this balance holds will likely depend on how effectively TikTok communicates future changes and reassures its community.
