TikTok outages took over and affected users across the US after the app’s operations were handed to mostly American investors, including Oracle. So, what’s the reason and how viral did problems become, without being able to post it on TikTok?
It all started when users suddenly noticed messages with the name “Epstein” could not be sent, spreading rumors of censorship. The app, however, claimed these issues were caused by a data center outage.
TikTok’s performance remained unreliable, leaving millions of users uncertain if it was TikTok down again or just a temporary glitch.
Universally, Jeffrey Epstein is characterized as a “disgraced financier” and “convicted sex offender,” and became international due to his multi-decade sex trafficking ring and his death in federal custody in 2019.
It is worth noting that online public reporting, mostly – and almost explicitly – shared on TikTok by users, and investigative journalists, exposed alleged link to Israel. The most concrete link to the Israeli state is the Epstein’s long-standing relationship with former Prime Minister, Ehud Barak. Many US TikTok users have been demanding the release of “the Epstein files.”
Larry Elison, Oracle co-founder, is one of the biggest supporters of Israel and currently hold authority control over US TikTok’s algorithm.
Has TikTok Shut Down?
Short answer, yes, the reason for the shutdown? Well, according to officials at the company, the research is still ongoing to find the reason behind users not being to send “Epstein” in direct messages.
“We don’t have rules against sharing the name ‘Epstein’ in direct messages and are investigating why some users are experiencing issues,” a spokesman for TikTok’s US operation told NPR.
TikTok outages timing followed the app’s sale of US operations to a confederation of investors. The deal transferred control to mostly US-based owners, stopping a nationwide ban over national security concerns.
Tests showed that the messaging problem was inconsistent. Some users could send messages with “Epstein,” while others could not. Leaving no clear clues about the situation.
TikTok confirmed this matched its analysis, but the exact cause is still under review. The glitches also affected the video feed. Many posts received no views, comments failed to load, and the For You page algorithm was unreliable, causing further ‘TikTok still down’ complaints.
The outage began early Sunday, nearly 10 hours before many users first noticed, after a power outage at a US data center triggered what the company later called a cascading systems failure.
TikTok said it was working with its partner to restore service. Acknowledging TikTok shut down time had disrupted users across the country.
Downdetector showed reports spiking that morning, while many US users were unable to upload videos, which remained stuck “under review,” even as the same posts went live outside the country.
TikTok Outages Today Are Scaring Users
TikTok outages technical issues sparking concerns about possible censorship. Hashtags like #TikTokCensorship trended as users claimed content about immigration raids and political topics was being restricted.
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a review on Monday.
Meanwhile, head of communications for TikTok’s new US business, Jamie Favazza, told NBC News that there are no worries about censorship and asserted that TikTok down again happened because of data center outage. She added that new posts might still have lingering issues as the company worked to restore services.
In the intervening time, privacy updates under new ownership alarmed some users, revealing the app could access precise location information and other sensitive data. Experts said this is standard across social media.
David Greene, senior counsel at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, also hinted that ownership changes could influence editorial decisions in the future.
Users tracking TikTok shut down time reported inconsistent service across the country. Monitoring platforms showed widespread TikTok outage reports, leaving many unsure if normal service would resume.
Questions about TikTok shutting down gone as users tried to access the app. Others checked the TikTok status, hoping to confirm if the problems were resolved.
For now, TikTok is gradually restoring the functions and trust of users, though a full recovery timeline remains unclear. With millions watching closely, the app’s future under US leadership, and whether these TikTok shut down time events will repeat, is still uncertain.
Inside Telecom provides you with an extensive list of content covering all aspects of the tech industry. Keep an eye on our Tech sections to stay informed and up-to-date with our daily articles.