Since the TikTok app was banned in the United States, some users desperate to get the popular app back are willing to pay exorbitant prices, with some asking for up to $1 million on eBay
Because the app was removed from Apple’s App Store and Google Play, users who deleted TikTok will not be able to download it again, which has generated a kind of frenzy to find phones with the app still installed.
On sites like eBay, prices for iPhones with TikTok installed have skyrocketed. For example, an iPhone 16 Pro Max with the app is selling for $5,000, while another iPhone 16 Plus fetches $3,000
The New York Post even reported that some used iPhones are selling for more than $1 million. In Raleigh, North Carolina, one of these phones was advertised with the phrase: “The screen protector is perfect for repairing the damaged phone and has TikTok.”
Users desperate to recover TikTok
The desperation of users to get TikTok back is so great that some do not hesitate to offer huge amounts of money. “If you deleted TikTok, I sell one of my iPhone 16 with TikTok installed for $5000,” wrote one user on Threads
And others are not far behind: “I deleted TikTok and now I can’t get it back! I’ll pay someone $5,000 for an iPhone 16 Pro Max with TikTok still installed. DM me,” one user desperately expressed on the social network X.
All of this began on January 19, when the TikTok ban came into effect. At first, many users thought that the app would disappear for a long time and, by deleting it, they did not realize that they would not be able to download it again on their devices. This unleashed a wave of posts on forums such as Reddit, where people shared their frustration at not being able to recover the app once it was deleted.
TikTok can no longer be downloaded
The problem lies in the law that prohibits the distribution of applications controlled by “foreign adversaries”, which directly affects TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. Despite efforts by TikTok to find a US buyer, the restrictions remain in place, and app stores such as Apple and Google are obliged to remove the app.
Although those who still have TikTok on their devices can continue to use it, they will not be able to receive updates or make in-app purchases. And to make matters worse, if they change phones or delete the app, they will not be able to download it again. In a statement, Apple confirmed that it will comply with the law and that TikTok cannot be restored or downloaded again.
The situation is far from being resolved. Although former President Joe Biden does not want to enforce the ban, the law remains in place, and users must wait for a solution to be found. In the meantime, the craze for iPhones with TikTok continues to grow, and some are taking the risk of paying exorbitant prices just to continue enjoying the app on their devices.