People abandon TikTok as indie rival gains ground
TikTok faces rising US uninstalls amid technical issues as indie app UpScrolled surges in downloads and challenges the short-form video giant.
A period of disruption at TikTok in the United States is driving some users to leave the platform, with early data pointing to rising uninstalls and growing interest in smaller alternatives. Technical problems with TikTok’s recommendation system have coincided with a surge in downloads for an independent social app positioning itself as a fairer option for creators and viewers.
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The shift comes as TikTok adjusts to changes around its US operations, a process that has been far from smooth. While the platform remains hugely popular, recent weeks have exposed vulnerabilities that competitors are keen to exploit.
TikTok struggles with bugs and user frustration
TikTok has faced a series of technical issues that have affected core features of the app, including its recommendation algorithm, view counts and load times. The company has attributed the problems to a power outage at a data centre, saying it caused “multiple bugs” across the service. However, it has not given a clear timeline for when users can expect a complete fix.
Data from app analytics firm Sensor Tower suggests the disruption is having a measurable impact on user behaviour. The firm told CNBC that TikTok uninstalls in the United States have risen by 150% compared with the previous three months. The spike indicates growing frustration among users who rely on the platform’s consistent performance.
At the same time, TikTok’s audience size has not collapsed. An analyst at Sensor Tower told Engadget that daily active users in the US have increased by around 2 per cent over the same period and have remained flat week on week. This suggests many users are staying put, even as others test alternatives or step away temporarily.
The mixed signals highlight a challenge for TikTok as it navigates operational changes under new ownership arrangements in the US. Even short-term technical failures can undermine trust in an app that depends heavily on engagement and creator confidence. For some users, the recent problems have been enough to prompt a search for something new.
UpScrolled sees sudden surge in downloads
One of the primary beneficiaries of TikTok’s difficulties appears to be UpScrolled, an independent social app founded by an Australian. Over the past few days, the app has climbed rapidly up the download charts, reaching ninth place overall in the US App Store and becoming the second-most-popular social app, behind Meta’s Threads.
The rise has not been limited to the United States. UpScrolled has also entered the top five apps in both the UK and Australia, pointing to broader international interest. In the US, the timing of its surge closely matches recent developments at TikTok, suggesting a direct link between user frustration and UpScrolled’s sudden visibility.
Estimates from App Figures show that UpScrolled recorded about 41,000 downloads between Thursday, when TikTok’s US joint venture was formalised, and Saturday. Since its launch last June, the app has been downloaded around 140,000 times across Apple and Google app stores. Before last Thursday, it averaged fewer than 500 downloads a day.
The rapid growth has put pressure on the small team behind the app. On Monday, the company asked users to “bear with us” as it dealt with issues caused by the influx of new sign-ups. The message reflected the strain that sudden popularity can place on independent platforms without the infrastructure of larger rivals.
A familiar pattern and a different pitch
UpScrolled’s design and features are familiar to users of mainstream social media. The app allows people to share photos and short-form videos and features a visual style similar to Instagram. By default, it shows a chronological feed of accounts a user follows, although it also recommends content through its own system.
According to its website, UpScrolled is “privately funded by its founder, Issam Hijazi, together with a small group of individual investors who share our mission and values”. The app currently carries no advertising, though the company says it “probably” will introduce ads in the future as it grows.
This is not the first time that uncertainty around TikTok has boosted a lesser-known app. Early last year, Chinese platform RedNote briefly became the most downloaded app in the United States when TikTok faced the threat of a ban. That surge was short-lived, as the 2025 TikTok ban lasted only a few hours and users quickly returned.
What sets the current moment apart is a mix of ownership changes at TikTok and sustained technical issues that affect everyday use. UpScrolled is clearly betting that this combination creates space for a new short-form video service outside the control of a major corporation. “Too often, users are left uncertain about whether their voices will be heard or quietly suppressed,” the company says on its website. “UpScrolled changes that by ensuring every post has a fair chance to be seen, creating an environment that is authentic, unfiltered, and equitable for all.”
Whether that promise is enough to hold users in the long term remains to be seen. For now, the app’s rapid rise shows how quickly sentiment can shift when a dominant platform stumbles, even briefly.
