TikTok Uninstalls Jump 150% in the U.S. After Larry Ellison–Led Takeover Announcement

Daily TikTok uninstalls in the United States have surged by 150 percent following the announcement that a U.S.-based consortium led by Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison will take control of the platform’s American operations, according to app analytics.

The sharp spike points to growing unease among users over privacy, ownership changes, and potential policy shifts under the new structure. While TikTok’s overall daily active user numbers have remained relatively steady, the sudden rise in uninstall activity in the days after the announcement suggests a strong emotional reaction from a segment of the user base—many of whom appear to be deleting the app or testing alternatives.

One platform gaining from the migration is UpScrolled, an emerging social network blending elements of Instagram and X while emphasizing transparency and creator-friendly rules. The app has quickly climbed app-store rankings, signaling a broader rethinking of where creators and viewers want to spend their time as concerns about governance and data handling intensify.

The moment also underscores a larger shift in the social media landscape, where platforms are increasingly viewed not just as entertainment hubs but as arenas of influence and information control. That reality was echoed recently by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who described social media as a decisive tool in shaping public opinion and urged a more assertive digital strategy to counter hostile narratives and “win the information war,” particularly amid regional conflict and heightened scrutiny of Israeli policies.

Together, TikTok’s U.S. transition, the rapid rise of alternatives like UpScrolled, and high-level commentary on digital influence highlight how social platforms have become central battlegrounds for trust, narrative power, and geopolitical messaging. As ownership structures evolve and users reassess where they feel safest and most heard, competition in the short-form video and social networking space is set to intensify.