People are listing phones preloaded with TikTok for tens of thousands of dollars on eBay, Facebook marketplace and other online storefronts — though it is not clear if there are many buyers at those prices.
TikTok was briefly unavailable to U.S. users over the weekend, but as of Sunday anyone who had previously downloaded it has been able to use it. The app is still not available for download on Apple and Google’s app stores, so anyone who didn’t think to get TikTok before Sunday is out of luck.
As a result, some entrepreneurial spirits are selling phones and tablets that have TikTok — and other apps from its parent company ByteDance, such as Lemon8 and video editor CapCut. On eBay, listings could be found for as much as $50,000 (or as little as $340) on Friday. While it’s not clear how many such phones have sold, the ones selling for hundreds have received the most bids.
One seller, Nicholas Matthews, who lives in New York, said he decided to sell the phone when he saw that TikTok was in high demand. He listed an iPhone 14 Plus with TikTok for $10,000. As of Friday, Matthews said his highest bid was for $4,550.
“I’m just expecting to sell this one phone,” he said.
TikTok has about 170 million users in the U.S. The ban does not target individual users, who are technically free to use it as long as they could.
Ebay did not immediately respond to a message for comment on the listings on Friday.
Earlier this week, President Donald Trump directed his Justice Department to pause enforcement of the ban until early April. But a host of questions remain — including whether Trump has the authority to issue such an order and if TikTok’s China-based parent would be amenable to selling the popular social media platform.
It seems like TikTok has taken over the world, with people now willing to pay thousands for phones loaded with the popular social media app. Sellers on eBay and Facebook are cashing in on the TikTok craze, offering phones with the app pre-installed for exorbitant prices.
But why are people willing to shell out so much for a TikTok-loaded phone? Some believe it’s because they want to access the app without having to go through the usual download process. Others think it’s a way to stand out and show off their dedication to the platform.
Whatever the reason may be, one thing is clear: TikTok has become a cultural phenomenon that shows no signs of slowing down. And if people are willing to pay top dollar for a phone with the app already on it, then who are we to judge?
Would you pay thousands for a TikTok-loaded phone? Let us know in the comments below.
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