The partial ban left users unable to redownload TikTok if they had previously deleted the app. Demand for devices that still have it installed skyrocketed.
The current situation of TikTok in the United States has given rise to an unusual market on platforms such as eBay, where iPhones old and used for thousands of dollars. The reason? These devices have the application pre-installed, a valuable resource after the Chinese social network was removed from the application stores in that country.
The US blocked TikTok
On January 19, a law went into effect requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, the sale of its local operations in the United States. While the future of the app is being negotiated, it was removed from the App Store and Google Play, although access was temporarily restored following an order from President Donald Trump.
This partial block left users unable to redownload TikTok if they had previously deleted the app, which triggered demand for devices that still have it installed.
Inflated prices on the resale market
On sites like eBay, iPhones with TikTok installed are sold for amounts ranging between $3,000 and $5,000, although some ask for up to a million. Users on social networks also joined this trend, offering their smartphones with the app for high figures.
Desperation for the app
The restriction caused many users, especially those who depend on TikTok for their creative or commercial activities, to look for alternatives to get the application back. This situation highlights the impact of the social network on the daily lives of its users and shows the value given to it in the digital ecosystem.
Future of TikTok in the United States
TikTok’s fate depends on ByteDance reaching an agreement to sell its US operations, a process that includes a 75-day deadline granted by the government. Once the sale is completed, it is expected that the application will be available again in the application stores and that the situation will normalize.
Meanwhile, the phenomenon of iPhones with TikTok reflects the magnitude of users’ dependence and attachment to this social network, turning what seems like a temporary situation into an opportunity for some marketers.
Source: Ambito
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