Woman refuses Walmart’s data-sharing agreement on her Vizio TV, then her Nintendo Switch screen goes black: ‘You don’t own anything anymore’

A woman alleged that her Vizio TV’s HDMI screen went black when she attempted to play her Nintendo Switch after declining a data-sharing request from Walmart. In a TikTok video, Cerce (aeaeawitch) said an agreement appeared on her TV the previous week, informing her of Vizio’s merger with Walmart and asking for permission to share her data.

Cerce said she eventually got her HDMI to work after resetting her TV and agreeing to share her information with Walmart. While her account suggests a cause-and-effect relationship implying that her refusal to accept the terms led to the black screen, there is no definitive proof that her decision was the cause of the problem. Additionally, online accounts mention black or frozen screens on Vizio TVs, but the available data does not explicitly attribute it to the Vizio-Walmart merger.

However, a few things need attention. Cerce mentioned that she could still use her TV to watch Netflix or Disney. She also mentioned that while she was trying to troubleshoot and resolve the issue, she connected her Nintendo Switch to her husband’s television, and it worked.  

She did things differently the second time

Cerce’s experience left her questioning personal information, consumer ownership, and access to purchased technology. “I can play video games again on the TV I bought on the Switch that I bought on the dock that I bought the HDMI cord that I bought the game that I bought in the house that I’m paying for with the electricity that I already paid for everything paid for, but because I didn’t share my information or go to agree to sharing my information with Walmart I can’t access the HDMI on the TV I purchased,” she said.

Based on her experience, Cerce deduced, “You don’t own anything anymore unless you want to share your data or not share your data or whatever. You can’t do anything anymore, it doesn’t matter that you bought it.”

A billion-dollar merger at play

In December 2024, Walmart acquired Vizio for $2.3 billion, according to Variety. The article said Walmart had first announced plans to acquire Vizio in February 2024 and completed the acquisition after the waiting period required by federal regulations expired.

The source said Walmart intended the new venture to bring to market “new and differentiated ways for advertisers to meaningfully connect with customers at scale and boost product discovery.” It also noted that, despite the merger, both companies would operate independently “for the foreseeable future.” William Wang would continue as Vizio’s CEO, but would report to Seth Dallaire, Walmart U.S.’s executive VP and chief growth officer.

Through her account, Cerce raised several pertinent questions. Although her comments focused on her personal experience with Vizio TV and Walmart, they prompt us to consider whether we truly own the products we purchase or merely pay others for permission to use them.

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