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

"Many TikTok users across the US say they're rethinking their relationship with the platform since its ownership and terms and conditions have recently changed, with some citing censorship and lack of trust as reasons why they're removing themselves from the app. Keara Sullivan, a 26-year-old comedian, says TikTok jumpstarted her career and provided a pathway to getting a manager and a literary agent."

"I'm not one of those creators who's a TikTok hater, said Sullivan, who has more than half a million followers on the platform. I'm very transparent about the fact that where I am in my career is largely because of TikTok. That's why, she said, it's really sad for her to step away from the platform at least for now."

"TikTok, the short-form video platform owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has faced scrutiny after the decision to create a new US-based entity, TikTok USDS Joint Venture, in an effort to avoid being banned in the country. Investors in the majority US-owned venture include Oracle, which is owned by Trump ally Larry Ellison, the private equity-group Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi's MGX, who will own 80.1% of the new entity."

Many US TikTok users are rethinking and removing themselves from the platform following recent ownership and terms changes, citing censorship and lack of trust. Keara Sullivan, a 26-year-old comedian with over half a million followers, credits TikTok with jumpstarting her career but says she is stepping away at least for now. TikTok is owned by ByteDance and has created a US-based entity, TikTok USDS Joint Venture, with majority ownership by Oracle, Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi's MGX (80.1%) and ByteDance retaining 19.9%. The move follows past ban threats and coincides with terms updates, technical issues, privacy concerns and a surge in US app deletions.

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