The newly Americanised TikTok has endured a disastrous inaugural week under US ownership, grappling with technical failures, user backlash over perceived censorship, and the rapid ascent of a new competitor. This rocky start threatens to undermine trust in the video-sharing giant as it navigates its post-China era.
A Troubled Transition from Chinese to American Hands
Just over a week ago, TikTok officially completed its sale from Chinese parent company ByteDance to a consortium of US investors, including the business software behemoth Oracle. This move marked a significant shift for the app, which had previously soared to over a billion users globally, overshadowing rivals like Instagram. However, its new life on American soil has been anything but smooth, with immediate controversies erupting.
Privacy Policy Changes Fuel Early Suspicion
The day after the ownership transfer, TikTok's new proprietors updated its privacy policy to allow more extensive data collection, such as tracking users' precise locations. While this aligns with practices common among major social networks, it sparked unease due to the backgrounds of the investors. Notably, Oracle's billionaire owner Larry Ellison, a known supporter of Donald Trump, raised questions about potential intentions behind the data usage, planting seeds of distrust that would soon grow.
Technical Woes and Censorship Allegations Erupt
The weekend following the sale saw two major events in the US that severely impacted TikTok. Winter Storm Fern crippled Oracle datacenters critical to the app's operations, leading to significant outages that left many users unable to upload videos or gain views. Concurrently, during protests over the fatal shooting of a US citizen by border patrol agents in Minneapolis, prominent figures like California state senator Scott Weiner and musician Billie Eilish accused TikTok of suppressing videos critical of federal immigration authorities.
Media Frenzy and Political Scrutiny Intensify
These allegations quickly gained traction, with outlets from the New York Times to CNN reporting on the claims, and Cosmopolitan magazine questioning if TikTok was censoring anti-ICE content. Democratic senator Chris Murphy labelled the alleged censorship a "threat to democracy," amplifying the backlash. In response, TikTok and Oracle issued statements attributing the issues to weather-related technical problems, but this did little to quell the growing public outcry.
Governor Newsom Launches Inquiry and a Competitor Emerges
Adding to the turmoil, California governor Gavin Newsom announced an investigation into whether TikTok had censored videos critical of Donald Trump, broadening the scope of alleged pro-Maga interference. This political scrutiny coincided with a user exodus, as many decamped to a new rival app, Upscrolled, which promises less censorship. Upscrolled has since surged to the top spot in the US Apple App Store, while TikTok has fallen to 16th, highlighting a significant shift in user loyalty.
The Broader Implications for Digital Trust
Alongside Upscrolled, virtual private network apps have also risen in popularity, reflecting a widespread fear of digital surveillance. Although TikTok, with its billion-plus global users, is unlikely to vanish overnight, this tumultuous week has damaged user trust. Similar to past scandals faced by Facebook and Instagram, the app's future now hinges on avoiding further missteps that could inflict lasting harm.
Historical Context and Future Uncertainties
This disastrous debut echoes a previous incident from just over a year ago, when TikTok faced a temporary shutdown due to US legislation. The current crisis, however, is compounded by political factors, including Trump's role in the original ban-or-sell deal and the immigration crackdown that sparked protests. As TikTok's new owners hope for a swift resolution, the app's ability to recover from this rocky start remains in question, setting a precarious tone for its American journey ahead.
