By YEET Magazine Staff, YEET Magazine
Published February 3, 2026

Keywords:
TikTok uninstalls 150% US after Larry Ellison takeover, TikTok user backlash after US ownership change, TikTok uninstall surge 2026 CNBC, social media app backlash privacy data concerns, TikTok USDS joint venture uninstall spike

TikTok uninstalls in the United States have surged about 150% in the days following the announcement that Larry Ellison-linked investors took over the platform’s U.S. operations, according to reports citing CNBC and market intelligence data.

TikTok Uninstalls Spike 150% in U.S. After Larry Ellison-Led Takeover, CNBC Reports

In one of the most unexpected twists in social media history, TikTok — once one of the most downloaded apps in the United States — is now seeing a sharp increase in uninstalls after news broke that its U.S. operations were taken over by a group of American investors including Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle. According to market intelligence shared with CNBC, the daily average of TikTok uninstalls jumped nearly 150% compared with the prior months immediately after the ownership change was announced.

What Happened — And Why Users Are Deleting the App

Last week, TikTok publicly confirmed that its U.S. business has transitioned into a new entity known as TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, structured to satisfy long-running regulatory pressures from U.S. lawmakers concerned about foreign control and data security. This change involved significant involvement from Oracle and other investors.

Rather than calming public concerns, the shift appears to have triggered a wave of user distrust and backlash.

Several key reasons users have reportedly deleted the app include:

• Perceived ownership risk: Many Americans feel uneasy about billionaire involvement in a platform they use daily, especially one once criticized for data handling practices.
• Revised prompts: The app began prompting users to accept updated terms of service and privacy policies at launch, which led some people to delete the app rather than review or agree to those terms.
• Technical disruptions: Early service hiccups — influenced by a data-center power outage and other technical issues — frustrated users already skeptical of changes.
• Political narratives: Social platforms like X and Reddit were flooded with reactions linking the transition to broader political distrust, amplifying the trend.

User Sentiment: What People Are Saying Online

Across social media platforms, users have expressed a mix of reasons for uninstalling TikTok:

• Some say they don’t want the new entity handling their data.
• Others argue the change signals increasing corporate control over social spaces.
• A smaller group points to technical frustrations and poor app experience post-takeover.

One Reddit thread about the surge attracted tens of thousands of upvotes and comments, with users debating whether the spike reflected genuine widespread dissatisfaction or simply a vocal subset of digital natives reacting to the news.

Industry platforms tracking uninstall data — such as Sensor Tower — are treating this surge as a significant signal of sentiment, although analysts note that uninstall spikes don’t always mean users won’t return. Some people delete apps out of curiosity or reaction rather than permanent abandonment.

What This Means for TikTok’s Future

Despite the uninstall spike, some points to consider:

• TikTok is still one of the most used social media apps in the world, and a surge in uninstalls alone doesn’t necessarily spell long-term decline.
• Digital behavior often reacts sharply to leadership changes and confusion over privacy terms.
• Competitor apps like UpScrolled and Skylight Social are seeing increased downloads, suggesting users are exploring alternatives.

Advertisers and creators are watching closely: a sustained drop in active users could ripple through content monetization, brand partnerships, and future market positioning.

Why This Story Matters

What we’re seeing isn’t just about numbers — it’s about public trust and perception in social media platforms. TikTok’s rise was built on community, creativity, and algorithmic discovery. Now, a structural change backed by billionaires and political pressure has prompted a grassroots exit movement — at least for now. Whether this is a short-term reaction or the start of a deeper shift in social media behavior remains uncertain.

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Sources: Reporting indicates TikTok’s uninstall surge came in the days after the U.S. joint venture takeover, with data shared with CNBC and discussions amplifying on Reddit and social platforms.