‘It’s really sad’: US TikTok users rethink app over concerns about privacy and censorship

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Sara BraunFebruary 1, 2026 at 06:00 PM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

Many US TikTok users are reconsidering their use of the platform due to privacy and censorship concerns following recent changes in ownership and terms of service. TikTok, owned by ByteDance, created a US-based entity, TikTok USDS Joint Venture, to avoid a ban, with Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX holding the majority stake. The new terms and conditions explicitly state the collection of sensitive user data, including racial origin, sexual orientation, and precise location. This has led to a 195% increase in daily US users deleting the app between January 22nd and 28th compared to the previous 90 days. Some creators, like comedian Keara Sullivan, are stepping away despite the platform's positive impact on their careers, citing a lack of trust.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Washington 30% Sensor Tower 35% MGX 40% Silver Lake 45% Larry Ellison 50% Oracle 55% Donald Trump 60% Keara Sullivan ×265% ByteDance ×275% United States ×485% TikTok ×1195%

Keywords

tiktok 100% privacy concerns 80% censorship 70% terms and conditions 70% us users 60% data collection 60% app deletion 50% bytedance 50% social media 40%