On Sunday, January 25, 2026, TikTok users around the world faced a significant disruption in the app’s functionality, prompting widespread concern and frustration on social media. Reports flooded in from users experiencing login failures, feed irregularities, and an inability to access key parts of the platform, such as the Help Center and the latest terms of service. The incident occurred shortly before 4 a.m. and quickly peaked with more than 36,000 reports, revealing a substantial outage that underscored ongoing instability amid recent corporate restructuring and high-profile ownership changes. This widespread disturbance has prompted questions about the app’s current operational status, especially in light of recent complex ownership shifts and tightening regulatory scrutiny.
Background: TikTok’s Major Ownership Restructuring in 2026
The Deal That Changed TikTok’s Ownership Structure
In a groundbreaking move that has attracted international attention, ByteDance—the Chinese parent company of TikTok—finalized a pivotal deal on January 22, 2026, transforming the app’s ownership setup in an effort to prevent a potential U.S. ban. Rather than the platform being directly controlled by ByteDance, the new arrangement established TikTok as a majority-American-owned joint venture. This strategy was designed not only to appease U.S. regulators but also to ensure the company’s continued presence in the global market under the regulatory framework set by the United States.
Under the terms of this agreement, American investors, including major corporate players backed by the U.S. government, hold an 80.1 percent stake in the new venture. Heavyweights such as Oracle and MGX, both of which received backing during the Trump administration and beyond, are among those holding significant shares. ByteDance, however, retains a minority stake of 19.9 percent, marking a significant reduction in its direct control over TikTok. This restructuring aims to align with U.S. national security concerns while maintaining the platform’s global operational capabilities.
The Current State of TikTok’s Outage and Functionality
More Read
Nature and Extent of Reported Issues
The primary problems reported by users at the height of the incident centered around core app functions. As per reports from Downdetector, over 35,000 users logged issues from around 4:04 a.m. local time on January 25, with the number gradually decreasing but still affecting thousands well into the afternoon. Users encountered a variety of glitches, including being unable to sign into their accounts, experiencing lag or freezing, difficulty reposting videos, and receiving repetitive content—an indicator of algorithm-related outages.
The most common issues identified were:
– Login failures or account access problems, preventing users from entering the app.
– Feed disruptions, where videos either did not load or refreshed with already viewed content.
– Repetitive videos, diminishing the personalized experience that TikTok is known for.
– Overall app crashes and timeouts, leading to frustration and diminished user engagement.
Content analysis from Downdetector reveals that approximately 65% of problems connected to app functioning itself, with a noticeable 22-23% involving feed issues or partial outages. These technical troubles highlight the difficulties faced by TikTok’s infrastructure amid ongoing corporate transitions and potential infrastructural vulnerabilities.
Impact on User Experience and Platform Perception
The outages have not only caused inconvenience but also raised broader questions about TikTok’s stability, especially in this critical time. Users expressed their annoyance on social media, with some unable to access help resources such as the Help Center or view updated terms of service—a reminder that the platform’s operational transparency is key to user trust.
The situation also comes amidst heightened scrutiny over regulatory compliance, data privacy policies, and national security concerns, which potentially complicate TikTok’s operational stability. Such outages risk damaging user confidence further as they grapple with the platform’s reliability amidst these turbulent changes.
Ownership: Who Controls TikTok in 2026?
Details of the New Ownership Arrangement
The January 22 agreement marks a significant shift in who ultimately controls TikTok. Rather than ByteDance holding undivided control, the platform now operates as a joint venture primarily owned by American investors. The deal was seized as a strategic maneuver to sidestep possible federal bans and placate government concerns about data security and information control.
Per official sources, about 80.1% of TikTok’s shares are now in the hands of U.S.-based investors, including major firms like Oracle and MGX. ByteDance’s residual 19.9% stake continues to give the Chinese company a presence within the platform’s corporate structure, though it no longer exerts majority control. This split aims to satisfy U.S. regulatory demands while keeping TikTok operational and profitable across many regions.
This ownership rebalancing was also described as a way to streamline TikTok’s global operations, ensuring data sovereignty and compliance with U.S. laws, especially related to user privacy.
Technical and Access Issues During the Outage
Problems with TikTok’s Help Center and Legal Resources
In addition to core app functionality issues, many users found themselves unable to access TikTok’s administrative resources. When attempting to visit the Help Center or review the latest terms of service located at TikTok.com/legal, users received error messages such as “Something went wrong. Try again later,” or “An error occurred while processing your request.” These problems suggest that the platform’s backend systems were compromised or overwhelmed during the outage, impairing user ability to get assistance or review policy updates.
Notably, the recent terms introduced on January 22 clarified that the platform’s updated privacy policies emphasize stronger data sharing with TikTok’s global operations, which has raised privacy concerns. TikTok’s new privacy policy states that “The revised privacy policy includes a statement that the new U.S. TikTok will share some data with TikTok’s global operations to ensure that users have an ‘interoperable experience.’” This information, alongside the legal updates, has been clouded for many users due to outage-related access issues.
Implications of the New Terms and Privacy Policy
More Read
The Changes in Terms of Service
Along with the ownership restructuring, TikTok’s terms of service officially changed on January 22, 2026. The platform clarified that users under 18 must have parental or guardian consent before accessing the app’s full features. The update also broadens TikTok’s ability to promote targeted advertising and track location data, provided users permit such activities.
These updates align with the platform’s efforts to operate in compliance with U.S. regulatory standards, but they have also drawn criticism from privacy advocates. The new policies increase the scope of data sharing with the global TikTok operations, which our sources report as a shift from past practices.
Some users attempting to review the terms found the links broken or the pages inaccessible due to the platform’s ongoing technical difficulties. As privacy concerns mount, many are watching how TikTok balances data collection, user privacy, and regulatory demands in this new operational landscape.
Looking Ahead: The Future of TikTok’s Stability and Governance
While the platform’s recent outage manifests as a temporary glitch, it underscores the broader challenges TikTok faces amid rapid corporate restructuring, regulatory scrutiny, and complex ownership dynamics. Trust in the platform hinges not only on content but also on operational stability and transparency, especially in a global environment increasingly attentive to data privacy and national security issues.
As TikTok continues to adapt to its new ownership structure, anticipate ongoing scrutiny from regulators and the possibility of further technical hiccups during this transitional period. The resilience of its infrastructure, combined with its ability to manage privacy concerns and maintain user trust, will determine its trajectory in the coming months and years.
