The screen froze mid-scroll, the endless stream of dances and skits replaced by a static void. Panic flared as I mashed the refresh button, convinced I’d been shadowbanned. Turns out, I wasn’t alone: TikTok was having a meltdown. What does this mean for the future of our favorite short-form video platform?
Across the U.S., users took to social media over the weekend to report widespread issues. Downdetector reported receiving more than 500,000 user reports in a 24-hour period, citing problems with TikTok’s core functions. The For You page seemed particularly affected, refusing to refresh for many users. Reports peaked Sunday morning, leaving many wondering if this was just a glitch or something more serious.
A spokesperson for the new joint venture managing TikTok’s U.S. operations pointed to a power outage at a U.S. data center. In a post on X, they stated, “We’re working with our data center partner to stabilize our service. We’re sorry for this disruption and hope to resolve it soon.”
The outage occurred just days after TikTok announced a new joint venture to oversee its U.S. business. This new entity is led by three managing investors, each holding a 15% stake: Oracle, the tech giant founded by Larry Ellison; Silver Lake; and Abu Dhabi–based MGX.
The announcement declared that the joint venture was formed to comply with a previous executive order, allowing TikTok to continue operating in the U.S. under this new leadership structure.
According to the press release, this “majority American owned Joint Venture will operate under defined safeguards that protect national security through comprehensive data protections, algorithm security, content moderation, and software assurances for U.S. users.”
Whispers of Change: Algorithm Anomalies?
I’ve noticed my feed feels…different. It didn’t take long for users to voice similar sentiments. For some, the shift has been subtle; for others, glaringly obvious.
Some users reported issues uploading videos related to certain topics, while others noticed a decline in specific types of content. One user on X wrote, “The new TikTok algorithm has ZERO, and I mean absolutely ZERO news or politics content, not one word about anything going on at all, not even the weather.” This raises questions about content moderation and potential algorithmic shifts.
The joint venture stated its mission is to “secure U.S. user data, apps and the algorithm through comprehensive data privacy and cybersecurity measures.” They also mentioned that the algorithm would be retrained on U.S. user data and secured on Oracle servers. Perhaps these changes are the first visible signs of that process. Think of it as a digital renovation: some disruption is inevitable.
Could TikTok’s Algorithm Change Affect Content Visibility?
The algorithm is the lifeblood of TikTok. Any alteration, however minor, can have a cascading effect on what users see and what creators can promote. If political content is indeed being suppressed, as some users claim, that’s a serious concern. It could be a bug; it could be by design. Either way, transparency is key.
Consider the implications for smaller creators who rely on organic reach. If the algorithm prioritizes certain types of content over others, it could create an uneven playing field. It’s like trying to swim upstream against a current designed to push you back.
The Players Behind the Curtain
Larry Ellison’s involvement adds another layer to this story. He’s not just a tech titan; he’s also an ally of President Trump. It’s worth noting that Ellison is the sixth-richest person in the world, with a net worth of $231 billion (€213 billion), according to Bloomberg. His son, David Ellison, recently took over Paramount and is reportedly interested in acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery next. This level of influence raises valid questions.
U.S. politicians have been pushing for ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese founder, to relinquish control for years. Trump signed an executive order in 2020 demanding that ByteDance sell the app’s U.S. operations.
President Biden later signed a bill that would effectively ban TikTok in the U.S. if ByteDance failed to divest. The Supreme Court upheld the law, citing national security concerns tied to TikTok’s links to China.
Why Was There a Push to Ban TikTok in the U.S.?
While national security was the official reason, some lawmakers have hinted at other motives. The platform’s popularity as a space for political discourse seemed to be the real issue. It became a place for dissent, debate, and viewpoints that challenged the status quo.
Then-Sen. Mitt Romney linked the broad bipartisan support for the ban to concerns among lawmakers about pro-Palestinian content on the app during a forum in May 2024. This suggests that the desire to control the narrative may have played a role in the push to ban TikTok.
The Future of TikTok: Censorship or Security?
Is the new joint venture prioritizing censorship over user experience? Are these outages and algorithm tweaks merely growing pains, or are they signs of something more sinister?
How Will TikTok Ensure Data Privacy Under New Ownership?
This is the million-dollar question. The press releases promise “comprehensive data protections” and “cybersecurity measures,” but what do those terms actually mean in practice? How will TikTok ensure that user data is protected from both government overreach and corporate exploitation? What auditing protocols will be in place?
The road ahead remains unclear, but one thing is certain: TikTok is at a crossroads. What choices will the new ownership make, and how will those choices shape the future of the platform?