Credited from: APNEWS
In the wake of TikTok’s brief removal from app stores, entrepreneurial sellers have rushed to list smartphones preloaded with the popular app online. According to CNN, there are now thousands of eBay listings showcasing phones that feature TikTok, with prices ranging from a few hundred dollars to as high as $50,000. This surge in listings comes after TikTok was pulled from app stores in the U.S. amidst ongoing legislative maneuvers that have raised significant uncertainty about its future in the country.
On January 19, ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, briefly shut down the app before President Trump paused the enforcement of a ban that would have required the company to sell its U.S. operations or face a complete ban—an action driven by national security concerns. As of now, while existing users can still access TikTok, new downloads are prohibited from Apple and Google app stores, leaving those who did not download the platform prior to this limitation in the lurch.
A seller identified as Nicholas Matthews has listed an iPhone 14 Plus loaded with TikTok for $10,000, highlighting the growing demand for these devices. Currently, listings for TikTok phones have garnered over 27,000 search results on eBay, with many phones selling for much lower prices still attracting multiple bids, according to AP News.
Despite the evident market for these preloaded phones, questions about TikTok's future remain paramount. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act limits who can host and distribute the application, complicating the potential for further engagement with the platform. Analysts suggest that for TikTok to return to app stores, a sale to a U.S.-based company may be necessary. For now, sellers and prospective buyers navigate an uncharted marketplace, with TikTok standing at the center of a legal and commercial storm, as reported by CBS News and South China Morning Post.
For more details on this developing story, please refer to the original articles.