TikTok users alarmed by new terms pop-up mentioning device geolocation

Many TikTok users have noticed a pop-up appear on their screens when using the app today, and people are freaking out about it.

The app says it’s updating its Terms of Service and Privacy Policy starting January 22, 2026. But it’s not the update itself that has everyone worried. It’s what the pop-up actually says.

Right there in the message, TikTok mentions “new types of location information (including device geolocation) we may collect from you, with your permission.” The pop-up also talks about an “updated corporate entity” and using your data to show ads outside TikTok. You can supposedly opt out of those ads, but here’s the thing: there’s only one button on the screen, and it says “Agree.” No way around it.

Reddit blew up pretty fast. One user on r/TikTok said they closed the app actually to read the terms first, but when they reopened it, the pop-up was gone. Now they’re wondering if TikTok just counted that as agreeing anyway.

Another thread filled up with people saying they were too scared to click anything and came to Reddit for help.

The timing lines up with a major ownership change. TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC was officially established on January 22, 2026, with American investors holding 80.1% of the venture and ByteDance retaining 19.9%. Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX each hold 15% as managing investors, following an executive order signed by President Trump in September 2025.

That explains the “updated corporate entity” language, but users are more bothered by the geolocation piece. Multiple people reported that TikTok removed location controls from their phone settings entirely. “I checked the app permissions under privacy & security> location services and there are no settings for TikTok. TikTok doesn’t even appear,” one commenter wrote in a thread gaining traction throughout the day.

Several users said they immediately deleted the app rather than accept the new terms. “Yea no, I didn’t hit agree. This is the end of tiktok for me. I was shocked with what they said of how they are tracking our location,” wrote one person just minutes after the pop-up appeared. Another thread titled “Don’t want to agree to the new ‘privacy’ policy” is filled with similar sentiments.

Others called the rollout “shady” because the prompt doesn’t include a “read more” option or link to the full updated policy before forcing a decision. “How have you updated location information but not specified exactly what you’ll be collecting?” another user commented. “Feels like a back ally drug deal.”

TikTok’s official US Privacy Policy and Terms of Service pages both show “Last updated: January 22, 2026” at the top. The Terms of Service now list TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC as the contracting party for US users, replacing ByteDance.

For now, the backlash is brewing on Reddit and X, where searches for “TikTok privacy” and “TikTok terms” show a steady stream of complaints and uninstall announcements.

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