TikTok Outage in the U.S. Sparks Outcry as Users Experience Problems

TikTok enthusiasts in the United States are expressing their dismay as the app encounters widespread outages. Numerous users have reported disruptions on the video-sharing platform. Downdetector, a website specializing in logging user complaints, noted a significant surge in issue reports around 4:30 p.m. ET, reaching a peak of 32,000 problems by 4:45 p.m. Notably, 79 percent of these reported issues were attributed to the app itself, while 19 percent involved server connectivity problems. The disturbance appeared to primarily impact individuals in New York, Washington, D.C., Houston, and Seattle. Some users mentioned briefly gaining access to the app before experiencing further disruptions.

In response to the outage, frustrated TikTok users turned to the social media platform X to voice their concerns. Notably, TikTok’s official support account has been silent on the platform since July 6, 2021, with no updates or comments made by the TikTok communications team either. TikTok’s popularity in the U.S. has soared since 2019, with projections indicating that by 2024, around 170 million Americans will be using the app. A study by Pew Research found that one-third of adults in the U.S. now use TikTok, a notable increase from 21 percent in 2021.

Back in early April, President Donald Trump extended the timeline for TikTok to secure a U.S. buyer by 75 days. This move was to “ensure all necessary approvals are signed,” preventing the app from being shut down in the country. On Trump’s first day in office, he deferred the app’s ban via an executive order, setting a deadline of April 5 for the Chinese-owned ByteDance to secure a U.S. buyer. Although the administration appeared close to finalizing a deal, negotiations stalled when the Chinese government paused discussions following the imposition of additional tariffs by the president. Last year, a bipartisan bill signed into law by former President Joe Biden mandated ByteDance sell TikTok to a U.S.-based company or face a ban from U.S. servers like the App Store and Google Play Store.