Hey truth-stackers. Welcome back to Stack of Truths, where we cut through the noise with facts, education, and a bit of humor.Today we’re looking at TikTok’s recent American transition. If your feed feels different or you’ve already uninstalled the app, you’re not alone.Larry Ellison, Oracle co-founder and billionaire, now leads the new ownership group. This shift has sparked real controversy around bias, glitches, and control.
How We Got Here: A Quick Recap
TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, became huge in the late 2010s with short videos and trends. By 2020, U.S. concerns about data privacy and potential spying led to bans and pressure.In 2024 Congress passed a law: ByteDance had to sell the U.S. operations or face a nationwide ban. After years of negotiations, the $14 billion deal closed on January 22, 2026.The new entity is TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC. ByteDance keeps about 20 percent. The remaining 80 percent goes to American and international investors, with Oracle (led by Larry Ellison) holding a 15 percent stake alongside others like Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi’s MGX.Oracle now manages U.S. data storage and influences the algorithm. Algorithms shape what content goes viral — small changes can amplify or suppress views.
The Controversy: Immediate Backlash and Glitches
Within days of the deal, users reported problems. Videos critical of Trump, ICE, or mentioning Epstein were blocked, shadow-banned, or failed to post. Some users claimed the word “Zionist” triggered restrictions.TikTok blamed a power outage at a U.S. data center (run by Oracle). Skeptics, including California Governor Gavin Newsom (who started a probe), questioned the explanation. Bernie Sanders publicly criticized it as crony capitalism.Uninstall rates jumped 150 percent in the first five days. Many users switched to other short-video platforms.
Imagine scrolling for fun videos, only to watch your political opinion vanish faster than a broken promise.
Ellison’s pro-Israel donations, Trump connections, and his family’s recent Paramount acquisition fuel concerns about potential bias in content promotion.
Why This Matters
TikTok reaches about 170 million U.S. users. That scale gives huge influence over trends, opinions, and even elections.If the algorithm favors certain narratives, public discussion can shift without most people noticing. Past accusations of suppressing certain voices now raise opposite worries.Practical advice:
- Diversify your platforms — don’t rely on one app
- Understand data sovereignty (who controls your information)
- Support transparent alternatives when possible
New CEO Adam Presser (former trust and safety lead) could help by adding more openness. Unblocking restricted terms would be a good start.Final ThoughtsIs TikTok becoming a controlled echo chamber, or is this just early turbulence? Probes and time will show the truth.One thing is certain: When billionaires own major platforms, your feed becomes valuable territory. Stay alert, question what you see, and keep building your own stack of truths.What’s your take? Planning to stay on TikTok or move on? Share in the comments.
Written by Stack Of Truths
with research & drafting assistance from Grok (xAI)
— Stack Of Truths
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