TikTok Outage: More Than 32,000 Users Report Issues With App

Forbes - May 15th, 2025

More than 32,000 TikTok users experienced issues with the app late Thursday afternoon, according to reports from DownDetector.com. Users began reporting problems around 4:15 p.m. EDT, and the number of affected users quickly escalated to over 32,000 within 30 minutes. The majority of complaints, approximately 82%, were related to the app itself, while 16% were about server connections and 2% pertained to the website. As of 5:05 p.m. EDT, TikTok had not addressed the outage on their support or communications channels. Forbes has reached out to TikTok for a comment regarding the situation.

This outage comes at a time when TikTok continues to be a dominant force in the social media landscape, making any disruption noteworthy. The incident highlights the app's dependency on stable technical infrastructure and the potential impact on its vast user base when issues arise. The lack of immediate communication from TikTok may affect user trust and satisfaction. This developing story underscores the importance of timely responses from tech companies during service outages and may prompt discussions on improving communication protocols during such events.

Tik Tok Outage Down Detector Social Media Issues Technical Problems

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.6

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article effectively reports on the TikTok outage, providing timely and accurate information about the number of users affected and the types of issues reported. It is clear and concise, making it accessible to a broad audience. However, the story lacks depth and diverse perspectives, focusing primarily on technical aspects without exploring broader implications or potential causes. The reliance on a single source limits its comprehensiveness, and greater transparency about data collection and verification processes would enhance its credibility. While the article serves the public interest by informing users of the outage, its impact on public opinion or policy is limited. To increase engagement and controversy, the article could incorporate user experiences, expert insights, and an exploration of TikTok's accountability in addressing technical issues.

Accuracy

The story claims that more than 32,000 users reported issues with TikTok, which is supported by DownDetector data. However, the exact number of users and the specific nature of the issues (82% app-related, 16% server connection, and 2% website) need further verification. The timing of the outage is reported as starting around 4:15 p.m. EDT, which aligns with typical reporting patterns for such events. The story also accurately notes that TikTok had not responded on X by 5:05 p.m. EDT, though this point requires continuous monitoring for updates. Overall, the factual claims are mostly accurate but require ongoing verification, especially regarding TikTok's official response.

Balance

The article primarily focuses on the technical aspects of the TikTok outage, with little exploration of user experiences or broader implications. It mentions user reports and the lack of an official response from TikTok, but does not delve into potential causes or the impact on different user demographics. This narrow focus might omit important perspectives, such as how outages affect content creators or businesses reliant on the platform. While the article doesn't show overt bias, the lack of diverse viewpoints limits its depth and comprehensiveness.

Clarity

The article is clear and concise, effectively communicating the key points about the TikTok outage. The language is straightforward and accessible, making it easy for readers to understand the situation. The structure is logical, with the most critical information presented first, followed by additional details. However, the story could benefit from more context about the potential impact of the outage on users and the platform. Overall, the article's clarity is strong, though additional context would improve reader comprehension.

Source quality

The primary source cited is DownDetector, a reputable platform for tracking service outages. DownDetector is generally considered reliable for such data, lending credibility to the article's claims about user reports. However, the article would benefit from additional sources, such as statements from TikTok or insights from technology experts, to provide a more rounded view. The reliance on a single source limits the scope of the information and could affect the story's reliability if DownDetector's data were inaccurate or incomplete.

Transparency

The article provides basic information about the outage and its reporting source, but lacks transparency regarding the methods used to gather and verify this information. There is no explanation of how DownDetector collects its data or the potential limitations of this approach. Additionally, the article does not disclose whether Forbes has received any response from TikTok, leaving readers uncertain about the completeness of the coverage. Greater transparency about the data sources and the verification process would enhance the article's credibility.