TikTok's newly shaped US entity is off to a really bumpy begin. Because the app continues to face technical points affecting the advice algorithm, view counts and different options, TikTok can also be seeing a wave of annoyed customers uninstalling it, in accordance with new knowledge.
Analytics agency Sensor Tower, which tracks downloads and different app store-related metrics, instructed CNBC that there was a 150 p.c rise in uninstalls of the TikTok app in the US in contrast with the final three months. An analyst at Sensor Tower instructed Engadget that TikTok's US day by day lively customers (DAUs) have elevated about 2 p.c in the identical time interval, and are flat week-over-week. TikTok has blamed an influence outage at a knowledge middle for “a number of bugs,” together with these affecting view counts and cargo occasions. The corporate hasn't stated when customers can anticipate a repair.
On the similar time, an impartial app known as UpScrolled has seen a surge in curiosity over the previous couple of days. The app is at the moment the ninth most-downloaded app within the US App Retailer and the second hottest social app (Meta's Threads is at the moment within the primary spot for social apps). The app has additionally reached the highest 5 within the UK and Australian app shops. In the US, its sudden reputation appears to be carefully tied to current modifications at TikTok.
UpScrolled has seen 41,000 complete downloads between Thursday (the day the US three way partnership was formalized) and Saturday, in accordance with estimates from App Figures. The app, which was first launched final June, has been downloaded about 140,000 occasions between Apple and Google's app shops, in accordance with App Figures. Previous to final Thursday, the app was averaging lower than 500 downloads a day, in accordance with the corporate. The speedy enhance in downloads has apparently brought about some points for the corporate which requested customers to "bear with us" on Monday.
Nicely, that is new…
You confirmed up so quick our servers tapped out. Irritating? Sure. Emotional? Additionally sure.
We're a tiny workforce constructing what Large Tech stopped being. Proper now we're scaling on caffeine to maintain up with what YOU began.
Bear with us. We're on it. pic.twitter.com/OAlYcN6t5q— UpScrolled (@realUpScrolled) January 26, 2026
Created by an Australian developer, UpScrolled appears a bit like Instagram. Customers can share photographs and shortform movies. The app defaults to a chronological "following" feed, although it does additionally suggest content material to customers. The app is "privately funded by its founder, Issam Hijazi, along with a small group of particular person traders who share our mission and values," in accordance with an FAQ on UpScrolled's web site. It at the moment has no adverts, although the corporate says it "in all probability" will sooner or later.
This isn't the primary time turmoil at TikTok has benefitted a beforehand little-known app. Chinese language app RedNote briefly turned the highest app in the US early final yr as TikTok confronted a possible ban. RedNote's reputation proved to be short-lived, although, because the 2025 TikTok "ban" ended up lasting solely a few hours.
However with new house owners at TikTok and rising frustration over technical points with the app, there might be a chance for a brand new shortform video service that's not managed by an enormous company. And that's what UpScrolled appears to be betting on. "Too usually, customers are left unsure about whether or not their voices can be heard or quietly suppressed," the corporate writes on its web site. "UpScrolled modifications that by guaranteeing each put up has a good probability to be seen, creating an surroundings that’s genuine, unfiltered, and equitable for all."
Replace, January 26, 2026, 4:28PM PT: This put up was up to date to mirror the newest particulars from TikTok concerning the ongoing points affecting the US model of the app.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/people-are-uninstalling-tiktok-and-downloading-an-indie-competitor-233345222.html?src=rss