LOS ANGELES — A mass exodus of American users is hitting TikTok this week following a controversial update to its community guidelines. The new policy, rolled out shortly after the platform’s acquisition by a U.S. ownership group aligned with the Trump administration, restricts content that “disparages federal law enforcement.”

Allegations of Censorship

Creators are reporting that videos documenting the recent ICE raids in Minnesota or criticizing “Operation Metro Surge” are being instantly flagged and removed. Users claim that the algorithm is now suppressing terms like “ICE,” “deportation,” and “Alex Pretti.”

“I tried to upload a video of the protests in Minneapolis, and it was taken down in seconds for ‘dangerous activities’,” said TikTok creator @MidwestVoice. “This isn’t about safety. It’s about silencing dissent.”

The “Uninstall” Movement

In response, hashtags like #DeleteTikTok and #MigrateToBluesky are trending. Tech analysts estimate that millions of U.S. users have uninstalled the app in the last 48 hours, citing privacy concerns and political censorship.

The new terms of service also grant the app broader permissions to access user location data, which some fear could be used to aid immigration enforcement. “It’s no longer a social media app,” wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter). “It’s a surveillance tool for the current administration.”