TikTok uninstalls spike in the U.S. after ownership shift, but usage holds steady

TikTok is seeing a sharp rise in app deletions among U.S. users following the transfer of its American operations into a newly formed U.S.-based joint venture, according to new data from Sensor Tower shared with CNBC. Uninstalls in the U.S. increased by nearly 150% in the five days after the deal was announced, compared with the prior three-month average.

The spike follows TikTok’s confirmation that its U.S. business would operate under new American ownership and leadership, a move designed to keep the platform running domestically amid prolonged regulatory pressure. While the surge in removals has drawn attention, it has not yet translated into a significant decline in overall U.S. usage, which remains largely flat week over week.

User reaction has been shaped by a mix of technical disruptions and renewed scrutiny of TikTok’s data practices. In recent days, users and creators have reported problems ranging from failed uploads to irregularities in the “For You” feed, issues TikTok attributed to a power outage at a U.S. data center. For a platform built on constant, real-time content delivery, even short disruptions appear to have pushed some users to uninstall rather than wait for fixes.

At the same time, social media discussion around TikTok’s updated privacy policy has fueled unease. After being prompted to accept revised terms, some users highlighted language stating that TikTok may collect sensitive data categories such as racial or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or citizenship status. While this language was already present in an archived version of the policy from August 2024, its resurfacing during a politically charged ownership transition amplified concerns among users already wary of how the new structure could affect content moderation and speech.

Creators have also voiced frustration over a lack of clarity. Several prominent TikTok users said they were not informed about how the joint venture might change platform operations or creator support. Some reported pausing or shifting their posting activity to rival platforms such as Instagram Reels and YouTube during the uncertainty.

Sensor Tower data suggests that alternatives are benefiting from the moment. U.S. downloads of social networking app UpScrolled jumped more than tenfold compared with the previous week, while Skylight Social recorded growth of over 900%. Rednote, another short-form platform, also saw a notable increase in installs during the same period.

Despite the headline-grabbing uninstall figures, analysts caution against reading the trend as an immediate collapse in TikTok’s U.S. presence. Active user numbers have remained stable so far, indicating that many users who deleted the app may represent a vocal but limited segment rather than a broad exodus.

The coming weeks are likely to be critical. If technical stability improves and the user experience remains consistent, uninstall rates could normalize. However, sustained concerns around governance, privacy, or perceived shifts in content moderation could have longer-term implications for creator loyalty, advertiser confidence, and audience engagement on one of the world’s largest short-form video platforms.