Action Against Critics of Trump Sparks TikTok Exodus in the U.S.

In recent days, the number of Americans uninstalling the popular video-sharing app TikTok has surged. Multiple factors are driving this trend, including concerns over government and Trump-critical content being censored. Let’s take a closer look at why U.S. users are suddenly abandoning one of the world’s most popular social media platforms.

According to Sensor Tower data, the number of American users deleting TikTok has risen by 150%. The spike coincides with TikTok’s announcement to operate in the U.S. as part of a new joint venture. Changes to the app’s privacy policy and fears of censorship have further fueled user concern.

Even users with millions of followers are leaving the platform, raising questions about TikTok’s future in the U.S.

Why Are Users Deleting TikTok?
Reports indicate that the surge in deletions is linked to the app’s updated privacy policy. Users received prompts to accept new terms, which triggered widespread discussion online. The policy states that TikTok may collect sensitive data, including ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship, and financial information. While the company claims these rules are not new, concerns over privacy have caused alarm among users.

Technical Issues and Censorship Concerns
The app faced additional challenges when a major technical outage occurred on January 25, affecting over 36,000 users. Reports included videos looping repeatedly, slow app performance, and failed uploads. Many users interpreted these issues as censorship of content critical of the government and Donald Trump, prompting them to seek alternative platforms.

Rise of Alternative Apps: UpScrolled and Skylight
The TikTok crisis has created opportunities for rival apps like UpScrolled and Skylight Social. Launched in 2025, UpScrolled gained popularity in the U.S. by promising no censorship and no billionaire influence, quickly topping the U.S. App Store’s social networking category. Server overloads even forced the company to temporarily halt new sign-ups.

Skylight Social also saw a record surge after TikTok’s U.S. joint venture was finalized. According to TechCrunch, Skylight’s user base shot past 380,000 overnight, thanks to its use of the AT protocol—the same technology behind Bluesky—which gives users full control over their content and followers.

With users abandoning TikTok, platforms like UpScrolled, Skylight, and Rednote are rapidly gaining traction in the U.S.

TikTok’s Current Situation
TikTok is still struggling to fully recover its U.S. infrastructure following the large outage. Millions of users were affected, and the company’s system has yet to stabilize. TikTok has stated that it is working closely with its data center partners to restore reliable service.

The transition to a joint venture, coupled with technical issues and privacy concerns, has negatively impacted user experience and trust, accelerating the shift toward alternative social media platforms in the United States.