TikTok is indeed back online for U.S. users as of early February 2026. A significant outage last week, triggered by a winter storm that disrupted an Oracle-operated data center, has been fully resolved. The platform – now under a new U.S.–majority ownership structure – appears to be operating normally again.
Major Outage and Restoration
In late January, many users across the U.S. faced widespread difficulties with TikTok. Posting, discovery, and interaction metrics such as likes and view counts were severely impacted. Creators even reported seeing zero views on their posts.
The company attributed the outage to Winter Storm Fern, which disrupted power and network infrastructure at a key Oracle data center that handles TikTok’s U.S. operations.
By February 1, 2026, TikTok confirmed that all services had been restored:
– Core functions like video posting, search, and engagement metrics were back to normal.
– TikTok posted updates across platforms including X to inform users.
Ownership Transition and Context
This outage occurred just after TikTok’s U.S. operations transitioned to a new ownership model. A joint venture dubbed TikTok USDS, composed of U.S. investors including Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX, now controls approximately 80% of the platform, leaving ByteDance with a 20% minority stake.
This restructuring was mandated under the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA), which required ByteDance to divest control by mid-January 2025 or face a U.S. ban. The deal finalized in January 2026.
“We have successfully restored TikTok back to normal after a significant outage caused by winter weather took down a primary U.S. data center site operated by Oracle.”
— TikTok USDS Joint Venture statement
Ripple Effects & Industry Response
Interestingly, rivals like the “AT protocol” short‑video app Skylight (backed by Mark Cuban) and UpScrolled (by Issam Hijazi) saw a surge in downloads and App Store rankings during the outage and ownership transition. Analysts reported tens of thousands of new users for those platforms.
At the same time, many U.S. creators voiced concern over changes in TikTok’s terms of service and data collection under new ownership. Issues like expanded personal data harvesting—covering gender identity, location, and race—plus alleged political censorship, triggered distrust and prompted some users to step away from the app.
Quick Summary Table
| Factor | Impact & Details |
|——————|———————————————————–|
| Outage Cause | Winter storm affecting Oracle data center |
| Restoration | Completed by February 1, 2026 |
| Ownership | 80% U.S. investors (including Oracle), 20% ByteDance |
| Regulatory Trigger| PAFACA and enforced divestment |
| User Sentiment | Concerns around privacy, censorship, data ownership |
| Competition Uptake| Rival apps gained traction during disruption |
What This Means for You
If you’re in the U.S., TikTok is now working again after the technical difficulties. You can post, browse, and engage just as before.
Still, the underlying shift in ownership, regulatory pressure, and emerging trust issues mean that the platform’s future could feel different. Keep an eye on evolving terms of service, potential feature changes, or new regional policies—especially for creators who rely on TikTok as part of their livelihood.
FAQs
Is TikTok currently available in the U.S.?
Yes. As of February 1, 2026, the platform has fully restored service after resolving a snowstorm-caused outage that impacted posting, discovery, and engagement metrics.
Why was TikTok inaccessible last week?
A severe winter storm caused power and network failures at an Oracle-operated data center handling U.S. TikTok services. This disrupted key features like posting and view counts.
Who owns TikTok now?
TikTok’s U.S. operations are 80% owned by a U.S. investor coalition (including Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX), while ByteDance retains 20% ownership under the TikTok USDS joint venture.
Are there concerns tied to TikTok’s new ownership?
Yes. Many U.S. users and creators are worried about enhanced data tracking and censorship risks. Privacy concerns have heightened following changes to TikTok’s terms and ownership structure.
Did competitors benefit from the outage?
Indeed. Apps like Skylight and UpScrolled saw significant growth during TikTok’s outage and ownership shift, with App Store ranking gains and increased user adoption noted.
In short: TikTok is back in the U.S. after a weather‑related outage, now operating under new ownership. Yet the road ahead is shaped by regulatory changes, evolving user trust, and shifting digital dynamics—so things may continue to feel… well, a bit unpredictable.
Leave a comment