Is TikTok already censoring some topics, and restricting what U.S. users can see in the app?

A rising number of high-profile users have declared that they’re moving away from the platform, due to concerns that the new Trump-aligned TikTok US team will look to manipulate its algorithms to restrict discussion of certain topics.

Which, at least in theory, is possible, however the evidence of such thus far is speculative, while TikTok itself says that the issues that people are facing in the app are due to data center failures, not because of any manual manipulation or interference.

On the newly created “TikTok USDS Joint Venture” X account, the TikTok US team has provided an update on its ongoing data center issues, which were caused by an outage at one of its facilities.

As per TikTok US:

“We’ve made significant progress in recovering our U.S. infrastructure with our U.S. data center partner. However, the U.S. user experience may still have some technical issues, including when posting new content. We’re committed to bringing TikTok back to its full capacity as soon as possible.”

TikTok says that the current outages and system issues have caused some TikTok users to temporarily see “0” views or likes on their posts, while it’s also impacted the display of creator earnings. These are glitches, TikTok says, that will be resolved, and it’s working to recover all systems.

That would explain why some people are seeing zero views on their posts about ICE and Minneapolis, which some have suggested is overt censorship in the app.

TikTok Says Its Working to address Issues Wiht US App

Overview of the Recent TikTok Outage in the United States

In the early hours of Sunday,January 2026,millions of TikTok users across the United states experienced significant disruption while using the popular social media platform. User reports, tracked by outage monitoring platforms like DownDetector, indicated that TikTok services were affected starting from approximately 3:51 AM Eastern Time (ET). Manny users reported difficulties accessing videos, uploading content, and overall app instability. This unplanned downtime caused frustration among content creators and casual users alike, highlighting the platform’s impact on everyday social engagement.

Root Cause: power Outage at TikTok’s Data Center

TikTok’s official USDS Joint Venture account recently disclosed that the outage stemmed from a power outage at one of their primary data centers. This interruption temporarily destabilized tiktok’s operations, preventing users from enjoying seamless content streaming and interaction. TikTok is actively collaborating with its data center partner to swiftly stabilize and restore full functionality to the app.

Key facts About the TikTok Outage

How TikTok Is Working to Resolve the Issues

TikTok’s technical team has been clear and proactive, assuring users that restoring normal service is their highest priority. They are:

• Engaging with Data Center Partners: TikTok is coordinating with the affected data center’s emergency response teams to understand and fix the power supply instability.
• Continuous Monitoring: The app’s performance and user reports are being monitored in real-time to detect any lingering issues post-restoration.
• Providing User Updates: Transparent dialog through social media and outage trackers helps keep users informed about ongoing repairs and expected timelines.

Implications for TikTok Users in the US

The outage has broader implications for TikTok’s massive user base, especially influencers, businesses, and content creators who rely on the platform for engagement, marketing, and revenue generation. Key impacts include:

• Interrupted Content flow: Users were unable to upload or view new content, affecting engagement metrics.
• Potential Revenue Loss: Influencers relying on TikTok Live or sponsored posts faced temporary disruption in income streams.
• User Frustration: Consistent availability is crucial for retention; outages can erode user trust if they recur frequently.

Practical Tips for Users During TikTok Outages

If you experience a TikTok outage or interruption, here are some practical steps to minimize the inconvenience:

• Check Official Channels: Follow TikTok’s verified accounts or outage tracking websites for live updates.
• Restart and Update: Close and reopen the app or check for app updates that may contain fixes.
• Work Offline: Prepare and schedule posts ahead of time during periods of stability.
• Use option Platforms: Temporarily engage your audience on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube until TikTok is stable again.

Monitoring tiktok Service Status in Real-Time

For users and businesses intent on staying ahead during unexpected technical glitches,several real-time monitoring platforms provide live outage maps and status updates. These include:

User Experiences and Case Studies During the 2026 TikTok Outage

During the outage, many users expressed their experiences on other social networks. Here’s a glimpse at what some users reported:

• Content Creators: Many influencers highlighted that their planned live sessions were abruptly cut off, causing loss of audience interaction.
• Casual Users: Users shared frustrations about their feed not refreshing or videos failing to load, creating a dead app experience.
• Business Accounts: Marketing professionals reported delayed campaign launches and decreased ad performance during the downtime.

Example User tweets

SEO Keywords and Best Practices Used in This Article

• TikTok outage
• TikTok US app issues
• TikTok power outage
• TikTok downtime
• TikTok data center problem
• TikTok app fix
• TikTok USA problems
• TikTok server issues

Others have also raised concerns about limits on keyword searches, with searches for “Epstein” for example, producing no results, reportedly, for some users.

That may also be related to TikTok’s transition issues, though given the timing, you can see how, perceptually at least, it does appear like the new TikTok US team is looking to quell certain harmful talking points for the Trump team.

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

But then again, last year, when discussing his proposed TikTok joint venture proposal, Trump did joke that he would make TikTok “100% MAGA” if he could, and with the timing of these issues, it is going to raise more questions as to how the TikTok US team will approach TikTok management.

But it’s too early to be calling this out as yet. There’s nothing definitive, the evidence is largely anecdotal, we’ll have to wait until there have been some more large-scale tests of the new TikTok US system before jumping to any conclusions.

But it’s not great timing for the new American version of the app, and it could trigger an early exodus of users.