More than 32,000 TikTok users reported issues with the app on Thursday, May 15, as the platform experienced a widespread U.S. outage.
TikTok users began noticing problems around 4:15 p.m. EDT, according to data from Downdetector. The outage peaked at 4:45 p.m. with over 32,000 reports. Issues included app crashes, videos failing to load, blank feeds, and login failures.
By 5:30 p.m., complaints had dropped to around 13,300, but many users were still experiencing disruptions. As of 5:05 p.m., TikTok had not issued an official statement regarding the cause of the outage.
What caused the TikTok outage?
Roughly 79% of complaints were linked to the mobile app itself, while 20% were related to server connections. Only 1% of users reported problems accessing TikTok’s website. The pattern suggests the cause may lie within the app’s internal infrastructure, possibly tied to server overload during peak usage.
Although ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has not confirmed the reason, technology analysts point to likely backend or cloud service disruptions. The app was partially restored within an hour, indicating that engineers were able to quickly mitigate the issue.
RELATED: Latest on attempts to ban TikTok in the U.S.
A pattern of tech outages
TikTok is not alone. In recent months, major platforms have faced similar outages:
- Reddit suffered a March 2025 crash that triggered over 35,000 user reports.
- Meta’s platforms (Facebook and Instagram) went dark in December 2024.
These incidents raise broader concerns about the reliability of digital infrastructure as demand continues to grow.
Why it matters
TikTok is more than just a video-sharing app for many users—it’s a source of income and community. When the app goes down:
- Creators lose engagement and ad revenue.
- Businesses miss marketing opportunities.
- Users are cut off from their digital social lives.
Social media outages remind users and companies alike of the fragility of the systems that connect them.
Ongoing concerns about TikTok
This outage comes amid legal and political challenges facing TikTok in the U.S. In 2024, Congress passed a law requiring ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations or face a nationwide ban. While President Trump delayed enforcement through executive orders, the platform remains under scrutiny over data privacy and security concerns.
According to Pew Research, 33% of U.S. adults use TikTok—up from 21% in 2021. With nearly 170 million American users, any disruption impacts a massive audience.
What happens next?
It remains unclear if TikTok will release an official explanation or report future prevention measures. For now, the app appears to be stabilizing, though some users still report minor glitches.
Users are encouraged to monitor TikTok’s official support channels for updates.
This content is brought to you by the FingerLakes1.com Team. Support our mission by visiting www.patreon.com/fl1 or learn how you send us your local content here.