TikTok saw a 150% surge in uninstalls, after users were asked to agree to one thing

The popular video-sharing platform, TikTok, is seeing a sharp pullback in the U.S., with daily uninstalls jumping nearly 150% after users were prompted to agree to an updated privacy policy. As reported by CNBC, market intelligence data shows the spike occurred over a five-day period compared to the average activity from the prior three months.

The increase followed news of a newly announced U.S. joint venture, which was quickly accompanied by a required privacy policy update for users. Shortly after the prompt appeared, many users shared on social media that the policy language influenced their decision to remove the app.

The updated policy outlines a wide range of data that may be collected, including sensitive personal information. While archived versions of the policy from August 2024 included the same provisions, the timing of the prompt alongside the joint venture announcement appeared to intensify user concerns.

The policy prompt arrived at a sensitive time

The joint venture was formed to allow TikTok to continue operating in the U.S. under American leadership. A shift that stirred broad discussions similar to ongoing domestic policy debates about governance and control, as seen with a recent mention of growing calls for a European defense strategy. Adam Presser, previously head of operations, was named CEO of the new entity, a move tied to ongoing scrutiny over data security and foreign ownership concerns raised by U.S. officials, including President Trump.

Creators have since voiced frustration over what the change means for them. Nadya Okamoto, who has more than 4 million followers, said the company has not clearly explained how the joint venture affects creators, adding that the lack of communication has contributed to growing anxiety across the platform. The uncertainty mirrors other social media tensions, like the discussion around viral winter weather warnings from a Texas resident that captured attention this week.

Those concerns were compounded by technical issues that surfaced around the same time. Several creators reported outages and failed uploads, with Okamoto stating she was unable to post videos for roughly 24 hours during the disruption.

The joint venture’s public account later acknowledged the service problems, attributing them to a power outage at a U.S. data center and stating that efforts were underway to stabilize service. For some users, the explanation came too late. Creator Dre Ronayne, who had nearly 400,000 followers, deleted her account and cited concerns over the platform’s terms and moderation practices in a public message encouraging others to do the same.

Data also shows interest shifting toward competing platforms. Downloads for UpScrolled increased more than tenfold week over week, Skylight Social rose 919%, and Rednote saw a 53% increase.

Despite the spike in removals, overall U.S. active user levels remained relatively flat compared with the previous week, suggesting that while the uninstall surge was significant, it did not materially reduce the platform’s broader user base.