If all your video likes on TikTok reset to zero, you are not alone.
Tens of thousands of users across the globe are experiencing issues with the popular video sharing app.
Videos with thousands of likes are now shown with just zero, sparking a frenzy on Twitter where users have flocked to share their frustrations.
However, some have raised concerns that TikTok may have completely shut down, as there has been rumors in the past that it would one-day come to an end.
Shortly after reports surfaced, TikTok addressed the outage on Twitter: ‘Hi TikTok community! We’re aware that some users are experiencing app issues – working to quickly fix things, and we’ll share updates here!’
Hi TikTok community! We’re aware that some users are experiencing app issues – working to quickly fix things, and we’ll share updates here!
— TikTokSupport (@TikTokSupport) July 9, 2020
Issue update: Fix in progress! You should be seeing your app experience return to normal as we continue to fully resolve things on our end. More updates to come.
— TikTokSupport (@TikTokSupport) July 9, 2020
TikTok allows its users to publish short-form mobile videos and showcase their creativity to the apps 800 million members.
However, the Chinese firm has come under fire as being a threat to national security in the US.
On Monday, Secratary of State Mike Pompeo said the US is ‘looking into’ banning TikTok.
Pompeo told Fox News’ Laura Ingram that he and President Trump are taking claims that the app collects users’ cellphone data and then shares the information directly with Beijing ‘very seriously’.
The comments were made by Pompeo when quizzed about whether the United States should be considering a ban on Chinese social media apps, ‘especially TikTok.’
‘With respect to Chinese apps on people’s cell phones, I can assure you the United States will get this one right,’ Pompeo said.
‘I don’t want to get out in front of the President [Donald Trump], but it’s something we’re looking at.’
The top Washington diplomat added that Americans should only download the app ‘if you want your private information in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.’
Within hours of hearing that the U.S. could potentially block TikTok, users of the short video app were freaking out on the platform.
“I do not accept this,” one user wrote. “Let’s not U.S.,” wrote another.
“Well then I really won’t have a life,” another said. “TikTok is literally my life,” another user wrote.
A TikTok post about the potential ban received 17,000 likes and close to 6,000 comments within a minute of it being published.
Owned by Beijing-headquartered ByteDance, TikTok is one of several Chinese-owned technology companies being probed by the U.S.
TikTok has been trying to distance itself from its Chinese parent company by setting up separate entities outside China.
The company’s biggest office is in Los Angeles, while London is its main hub in Europe.
In May, it appointed Disney’s streaming boss, Kevin Mayer, as its chief executive.
“TikTok is led by an American CEO, with hundreds of employees and key leaders across safety, security, product and public policy in the U.S.,” a TikTok spokesperson told CNBC.
“We have no higher priority than providing a safe and secure app experience for our users. We have never provided user data to the Chinese government, nor would we do so if asked.”
Meanwhile, TikTok has said it will pull out of the Hong Kong market after China imposed a new security law on the city that gives police more powers.
“In light of recent events, we’ve decided to stop operations of the TikTok app in Hong Kong,” a spokesperson told CNBC on Tuesday.
TikTok has become one of the world’s most popular apps since launching in 2017.
Globally, it has amassed over 2 billion downloads across the Apple Store and the Google Play Store, according to app tracking firm Sensor Tower.
Other technology companies including Google, Facebook and Twitter have suspended processing government access requests for user data in Hong Kong.