TikTok’s newly established American ownership structure encounters immediate operational failures and widespread user allegations of political content suppression just days after taking control of the platform.
Technical Outages Plague New Management
Over 500,000 users reported service disruptions within 24 hours this weekend, according to Downdetector. American users experienced frozen feeds, non-functional “For You” pages, and blocked video uploads. The TikTok USDS Joint Venture attributed these problems to power failures at a U.S. data center, promising swift resolution through their infrastructure partners.
The joint venture represents a complete restructuring required by federal law. Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi’s MGX each control 15 percent stakes, while ByteDance retains under 20 percent ownership. This transition followed Supreme Court-upheld legislation forcing divestment of TikTok’s American operations due to national security concerns over Chinese control.
Users Report Political Content Disappearing
Multiple users documented the apparent removal of political content from their feeds, including videos about immigration enforcement and international conflicts. Social media posts claim the new algorithm eliminates news and political discussions. TikTok has not confirmed any deliberate content restrictions, though creators report difficulty uploading politically themed videos under the new ownership structure.
What This Means for Platform Freedom
The ownership change was marketed as protecting national security through enhanced data protection and content moderation. However, early user experiences suggest the transition may fundamentally alter TikTok’s content landscape. Analysts predict that broader changes to recommendation algorithms and data handling could permanently reshape how American users experience the platform. Content creators who depend on TikTok for income now question whether the new ownership prioritizes control over free expression, raising concerns about the platform’s commitment to open discourse under American management.