TikTok’s newly formed US unit has had a bumpy start. As the app faces technical issues affecting its recommendation algorithm, view count and other features, TikTok is also seeing a wave of frustrated users who are uninstalling it, according to new data.
Analytics firm Sensor Tower, which tracks downloads and other App Store-related metrics, told CNBC that uninstalls of the TikTok app in the United States have increased by 150 percent compared to the previous three months. An analyst at Sensor Tower told Engadget that TikTok’s US daily active users (DAU) have increased by about 2 percent over the same time period, and are stable week-over-week. TikTok attributed the power outage to the data center for “numerous bugs”, including bugs affecting view counts and load times. The company hasn’t said when users can expect the fix.
At the same time, interest in an independent app called Upscrolled has increased in the last few days. The app is currently the ninth most downloaded app in the US App Store and the second most popular social app (Meta Threads currently holds the number one spot for social apps). The app also reached the top five in the UK and Australian app stores. In the United States, its sudden popularity appears to be closely linked to recent changes in TikTok.
According to App Figures’ estimates, Upscrolled received a total of 41,000 downloads between Thursday (the day the US joint venture was formalized) and Saturday. The app, which was first released last June, has been downloaded nearly 140,000 times between Apple and Google’s app stores, according to app statistics. According to the company, before last Thursday the app was getting an average of less than 500 downloads per day. The rapid increase in downloads has apparently caused some problems for the company, which on Monday asked users to “bear with us.”
Created by an Australian developer, Upscrolled somewhat resembles Instagram. Users can share photos and short videos. The app is based on a chronological “following” feed by default, although it also recommends content to users. According to the FAQ on Upscrolled’s website, the app is “privately funded by its founder, Issam Hijazi, along with a small group of individual investors who share our mission and values.” It is not currently advertised, although the company says it “probably” will be in the future.
This isn’t the first time the previously little-known app has benefited from turmoil over TikTok. Chinese app RedNote became the top app in the United States early last year as TikTok faced a potential ban. However, RedNote’s popularity proved short-lived, as the 2025 TikTok “ban” only lasted a few hours.
But with TikTok’s new owners and growing frustration over technical issues with the app, there may be an opportunity for a new shortform video service that isn’t controlled by a giant corporation. And Upscrolled seems to be betting on this. “Too often, users are unsure whether their voices will be heard or silenced,” the company writes on its website. “Upscrolled changes by ensuring that every post has a fair chance to be seen, creating an environment that is authentic, unfiltered, and equitable for everyone.”
Update, January 26, 2026, 4:28 PM PT: This post was updated to reflect the latest details from TikTok regarding the current issues affecting the US version of the app.
<a href