The US TikTok ban has caused a bizarre online marketplace frenzy, with used iPhones preloaded with the app being listed for thousands of dollars on eBay.
One seller even priced an unlocked iPhone 12 Pro Max with a TikTok app at a staggering $50,000 in hopes of profiting from the app's removal from U.S. app stores.
The TikTok Ban
As reported by 9to5Mac, the government implemented TikTok's ban from services on Jan. 19 following the US Supreme Court's approval of a restriction law. After the app stopped working both Apple and Google removed it from their marketplaces because of legal requirements.
However, on Sunday, former President Donald Trump issued a social media statement promising to suspend the ban the very next day upon taking office. Trump continued by issuing an executive order, giving the companies a 75-day grace period and saying they would not incur liability for violating the ban.
Legal experts pointed out weaknesses in the order, saying it might not protect companies from fines that could add up to $850 billion for violations. Companies such as Oracle appeared to take Trump's word for it, allowing TikTok access to be restored at least temporarily.
TikTok Phones Flood eBay
With the availability of the app still uncertain, eBay sellers began listing used iPhones and Android devices pre-loaded with TikTok. A simple search for "TikTok phone" yields over 9,000 listings, with prices ranging from $2,000 to $50,000, Wired discovered.
The listings play on a loophole in Apple's app management system. If a device has TikTok downloaded under one Apple ID, it remains usable even when another user signs in with a different Apple ID. However, restoring the phone or installing updates would remove the app, rendering the high-priced purchase worthless.
Are Buyers Taking the Bait?
Despite the willingness of sellers, it seems inflated prices are failing. Most listings show completed sales using eBay's "best offer" feature where buyers propose significantly lower amounts than the listed price. Some remain unsold, and apparently, cooler heads are prevailing.
Still, it's clear as daylight that there are desperate sellers who are hoping to earn a profit from taking advantage of the sensational TikTok ban in the country.
Alternative TikTok Apps You Can Use
Those unwilling to roll the dice on overpriced smartphones can simply use TikTok's web platform. While it has many of the same features as the app, it's just not as smooth or convenient to use from a desktop computer.
You can also use Rednote or "xiaohongshu", a Chinese social media app where some TikTok users migrated before the ban.
This quirky eBay trend imposes unpredictability surrounding the TikTok ban and the lengths some individuals will go to keep the app accessible. With the legal and political landscape still in flux, users and companies alike face uncertainty about TikTok's long-term availability.
One thing is evident as of this writing: the TikTok ban has not only shaken social media but also created a surreal marketplace, where desperate sellers and wily buyers are fighting tooth and nail in this digital auction arena.
