Why People Are Leaving TikTok After the App Changed Owners
TikTok is over for a lot of people.
Users have been announcing that they are leaving the social media platform, and it all has to do with their new American-controlled ownership deal, done in compliance with an executive order signed by Donald Trump last year.
Keep reading to find out more…
TikTok said the new American joint venture, called TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, “will operate under defined safeguards that protect national security through comprehensive data protections, algorithm security, content moderation, and software assurances for U.S. users.”
The Joint Venture is said to be operating as an independent entity governed by the following seven-member, majority-American board of directors:
Shou Chew, Chief Executive Officer of TikTok
Timothy Dattels, Senior Advisor to TPG Global
Mark Dooley, Managing Director at Susquehanna International Group (SIG)
Egon Durban, Co-CEO of Silver Lake
Raul Fernandez, President and Chief Executive Officer of DXC Technology
Kenneth Glueck, Executive Vice President in the Office of the Chief Executive Officer at Oracle
David Scott, Chief Strategy and Safety Officer at MGX
As a result, several users have taken to social media to say that they are abandoning the platform due to distrust of the new owners, as well as the new Terms & Conditions users must comply with, and TikTok’s association with the Trump administration.
Some users have also noticed glitching and FYP issues during the transition period.
“Hi so today I will be downloading my videos and deleting my tiktok page,” Hacks actress Meg Stalter announced. “TT is under new ownership and we are being completely censored and monitored.”
“I’m unable to upload anything about [ICE] even after I tried to trick the page by making it look like a comedy video. Let’s delete the app love you!”
See more reactions on social media inside…
PSA to delete your tiktok. the new terms and conditions are insane. pic.twitter.com/3g4Vhiu1VK
— the fate of em ❤️???? (@a_goldentattoo) January 23, 2026
I went to delete my Tiktok and… Yeaaah they don’t even give you the option to opt out and when I do try to opt out of the ad suggesting thing and it doesn’t even load. What do I even do? Do I just leave it? If I don’t agree will they still be able to view and use my data & info? pic.twitter.com/teaPo0QBUe
— Ari| Xavier’s New Year Bride | ⭐️????????♀️????⬛ (@PunchingDemons) January 26, 2026
Reposting again
If you're in the US delete your TikTok account ????
No app should be taking this much data from you in the first place, they do not need to know any of this.
"But my videos!" Save them all if you care so much. Then delete your account.
"But this!" "But that!" + pic.twitter.com/b2ovZXklXq
— Nicole ⛧ (@NicoledWastedx) January 26, 2026
Why is no one talking about the fact that the new TikTok TOS includes a key logger? Delete the app. Now. pic.twitter.com/Eu8QP2jyMZ
— Danarchist (@EdgeOfItAll) January 23, 2026
NO ONE is talking about Tiktok’s latest update on their terms and services
-tracks your citizenship/immigration status
-Religious beliefs
-mental and physical health diagnosis
-your race
-if you’re TRANS or NONBINARY
-sexual preferences and orientation pic.twitter.com/ZOTu82Wja5— GEEDEE (@GEEDEEzNutz) January 23, 2026