Search interest for “how to delete TikTok” has reached an all-time high, according to a Newsweek review of Google search trends.
An analysis of the search inquiry from 2004 to December 2025 shows search interest reaching an all-time high in December 2025. An analysis of data from the past three months shows slight variation in search interest, but it has been rising since January 22.
Newsweek reached out to TikTok for comment.
Why It Matters
TikTok announced on January 22 that TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC has been established in compliance with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump last year. The joint venture has three managing investors, Silver Lake, Oracle and MGX, with each holding 15 percent. ByteDance, a Chinese company, retains 19.9 percent of the joint venture.
After the joint venture was announced, TikTok updated its Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
What To Know
TikTok said the new venture will “operate under defined safeguards that protect national security through comprehensive data protections, algorithm security, content moderation, and software assurances for U.S. users.”
Trump reacted to the finalized deal on Truth Social, writing, “I am so happy to have helped in saving TikTok! It will now be owned by a group of Great American Patriots and Investors.”
How To Delete TikTok
TikTok says that to delete an account, users must:
- Begin by tapping “Profile” at the bottom of the TikTok app.
- Tap the three-lined menu button at the top.
- Tap “Settings and privacy.”
- Tap “Deactivate or delete account,” and follow the instructions to delete the account.
TikTok said users can also choose to deactivate their accounts. When an account is deactivated, a user will not have access to the account anymore, and no one will see the account or its content, but TikTok will keep their data if they choose to reactivate, according to TikTok.
Why Are Users Deleting Their TikTok Accounts?
It is unclear whether the rise in search interest aligns with an increase in users deleting their accounts.
Some users on other social media platforms have called on people to delete their TikTok accounts, citing the change in Terms of Service and Privacy Policy following the announcement of the joint venture.
“PSA to delete your tiktok. the new terms and conditions are insane,” one X user wrote.
Another X user wrote, “If you’re in the US delete your TikTok account. No app should be taking this much data from you in the first place, they do not need to know any of this.”
One specific section of the Privacy Policy highlighted by users reads, “Information You Provide may include sensitive personal information, as defined under applicable state privacy laws, such as information from users under the relevant age threshold, information you disclose in survey responses or in your user content about your racial or ethnic origin, national origin, religious beliefs, mental or physical health diagnosis, sexual life or sexual orientation, status as transgender or nonbinary, citizenship or immigration status, or financial information. For example, we may process your financial information in order to provide you the goods or services you request from us or your driver’s license number in order to verify your identity. We may also collect precise location data, depending on your settings and as explained below. We process such sensitive personal information in accordance with applicable law, such as for permitted purposes under the California Consumer Privacy Act.”
Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
About the Author
