TikTok has experienced technical issues affecting US users since January 25. These issues began after TikTok US operations were spun off into a new joint venture. The disruptions of the TikTok US outage are attributed to a power outage at a US data center.  

Despite the recent completion of the TikTok platform USDS joint venture, the platform has experienced disruptions since January 25, 2026, resulting in functionality issues for many users.  

Late Sunday, TikTok users across the United States reported stalled feeds and failed searches without warning.  

Many users speculated about censorship, with several posts alleging that the platform blocked information about recent ICE operations, which fueled concern before an official explanation was provided.  

The disruption occurred during a major winter storm that caused widespread power outages, though the timing prompted more scrutiny.  

The TikTok Down USA occurred shortly after TikTok finalized its US spin-off as required by the federal authorities.  

Social media users reported, in various anecdotal accounts, that comment sections would not load, and searches produced inconsistent results.  

Some users, based on personal experiences shared online, reported that their For You pages refreshed continuously, while others noted missing hashtags and delayed video uploads.  

Timing led to speculation as TikTok had completed its new US entity only days earlier, after years of scrutiny from Washington regarding national security concerns.  

Lawmakers had focused on TikTok’s former ownership under ByteDance.  

Under the new structure, ByteDance now owns less than 20% of the venture. Managing investors Oracle, SilverLake, and MGX each control 15%.  

There is ongoing concern that TikTok may be censoring certain topics and restricting content visible to U.S. users.  

An increasing number of high-profile users have announced their departure from the platform, citing concerns that the new Trump-aligned TikTok US team may manipulate algorithms to restrict discussion of certain topics.  

While this is theoretically possible, current evidence is still speculative. TikTok maintains that the issues are due to a TikTok infrastructure issue, not manual manipulation or interference.  

The TikTok US team provided an update on its newly created TikTok/USDS joint venture account, stating that ongoing data center issues were caused by an outage at one of its facilities.  

As per TikTok’s official response 

We have made significant progress in recovering our U.S. infrastructure with our U.S. data center partner. However, the US user experience may still have some technical issues, including when posting new content. We are committed to restoring TikTok to full capacity as soon as possible.  

TikTok says the current outages and system issues have caused some users to temporarily see zero views or likes on their posts and have also impacted the display of creator earnings. TikTok says these are glitches, and an expected resolution is anticipated soon. I explain why some users are seeing zero views on posts about ICE and Minneapolis, which some have interpreted as overt censorship. Others have raised concerns about restricted keyword searches. For example, some users report that searches for Epstein produced no results.  

While it is still unclear what caused the outage, speculations are rife that the issues may be related to TikTok’s transition. Though the timing has led some to perceive that the new TikTok US team is attempting to suppress certain topics.  

It’s still too early to say whether this is happening, and it would be a significant risk to TikTok’s US business and to US users if it were to engage in such overt censorship.  

Last year, when discussing this proposed TikTok joint venture, Trump joked that he would make TikTok 100% MAGA if possible. The timing of these issues is likely to raise further questions about how the TikTok platform’s US team will manage them.  

The company has not identified the responsible data center partner. However, a recent winter storm in the U.S. has affected approximately 220 million Americans.  

Some users have questioned the accuracy of TikTok’s statements, noting through anecdotal reports that the disruption coincided with civil unrest following the death of US citizen Alex Pretti, involving ICE agents.  

In a previous post, TikTok stated that US users may experience multiple bugs, slower load times, or timed-out requests, including when posting new content, due to continuing infrastructure issues. Creators may also notice zero views or likes on their posts or missing earnings. Both of which were attributed to server timeouts.  

The actual data and engagement are safe, the company advised.  

Further large-scale testing of the new TikTok US system is needed before making determinations.  

This schedule poses challenges for the new American version of the app and may prompt some users to consider leaving the platform.  

TikTok Ownership Explained 

TikTok’s U.S. operations have had a significant change. The platform is now managed by TikTok-USDS Joint Venture LLC, established on January 20-26. This new entity is majority-owned by U.S. and allied investors, while ByteDance holds up to 20% ownership. Key shareholders include Oracle, Silverlake, MGX, The Dell Family Office, Vestmere Tactical Investments, and Alpha Wave Partners.  

Why Is TikTok Undergoing A Change In Ownership 

This change addresses US national security concerns regarding foreign access to American user data and the platform’s algorithm. It complies with a September 2025 executive order from the Trump administration, which requires TikTok’s US operations to be majority American-owned while preserving user access. According to the company, this shift enables TikTok to continue serving US users and businesses without risking a government ban.