January 27th 2025.
While TikTok may be currently banned on app stores, it has been given a new lease on life thanks to clever eBay sellers. These savvy individuals have taken advantage of the legal dispute surrounding the popular app and are now selling phones with TikTok still installed. It's a smart move, considering President Trump's recent executive order for a 75-day extension for TikTok to be acquired by an American-based company. This has caused quite a stir, with the app being inaccessible for over 10 hours and leaving 140 million U.S. users without their beloved platform.
But fear not, for the app is now back up and running for account-holders. Unfortunately, those who had previously deleted or never downloaded the app are still out of luck. And to make matters worse, it's unclear when TikTok will be available on the App Store and Google Play again. The only option for those desperate to get their TikTok fix is to purchase a phone that already has the app installed.
According to CNN, there are currently over 27,000 listings for "TikTok phones" on eBay. But as with anything in high demand, these devices come with a hefty price tag. Some sellers are asking for as much as $50,000 to over $1 million for these coveted phones. However, it's important to note that even if you do purchase one of these phones, there's no guarantee that you'll actually have access to TikTok. Some sellers have signed out of their iCloud or Google accounts instead of doing a factory reset, which could result in the app being removed from the phone. And even if you do manage to keep the app, it's still a steep price to pay for a typical Android or iPhone.
Despite the exorbitant prices, there are still plenty of buyers willing to shell out the cash for a chance to have TikTok on their phones again. In fact, the news outlet CNN only found sold items with a maximum price of $21,000, meaning there are still higher-priced gadgets available for purchase. And for those who can't afford the steep prices, there's always the option to make an offer and negotiate with the seller.
It's hard to say how long this craze for "TikTok phones" will last as the app's future in the U.S. remains uncertain. In the meantime, the parent company of TikTok, ByteDance, is in talks with U.S.-based company Oracle to try and strike a deal before the deadline. It seems that as long as there are creative and determined individuals, there will be ways to keep the TikTok obsession alive.
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