Story perspectives

User Backlash Grows as TikTok Faces Major Ownership Shift

1/29/2026

Summary

TikTok Ownership Controversy

TikTok's transition to majority-American ownership has sparked backlash, with uninstalls surging by nearly 150% after the deal.
Users report widespread technical issues, including failed uploads and algorithm resets, coinciding with the ownership change.
Many suspect censorship of politically sensitive content.
TikTok's new privacy policy allows precise location data collection, fueling distrust.
TikTok says a data center outage caused the problems.

Summary

Hijazi's App Soars

UpScrolled, a social media app founded by Australian-Palestinian Issam Hijazi, has reached the App Store's top five.
The rise follows concerns about censorship on TikTok after its partial acquisition by billionaire Larry Ellison, prompting migration to UpScrolled.
TikTok's policy changes allowing extensive data collection have fueled distrust among users.
Critics, including Senator Bernie Sanders, say Ellison's control of TikTok's algorithm risks media power and political influence.

History

Historical Context

Since 2018, the U.S. government has scrutinized foreign tech firms like Huawei and TikTok over national security concerns, particularly regarding data privacy. In 2024, Congress passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, mandating TikTok's divestiture from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, amid fears of data misuse. This ongoing tension reflects broader anxieties about foreign influence in American digital spaces.

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TikTok Ownership Controversy

TikTok's transition to majority-American ownership has sparked backlash, with uninstalls surging by nearly 150% after the deal.
Users report widespread technical issues, including failed uploads and algorithm resets, coinciding with the ownership change.
Many suspect censorship of politically sensitive content.
TikTok's new privacy policy allows precise location data collection, fueling distrust.
TikTok says a data center outage caused the problems.

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