The recent ban of TikTok in the United States, upheld by the Supreme Court on national security grounds, has created an unexpected secondary market. Following the ban, some users turned to eBay to purchase used smartphones with the TikTok app still installed. With TikTok unavailable for download in app stores, these phones have become sought-after items, with some devices fetching prices as high as $ 14,000.
TikTok and CapCut’s temporary blackout impacts users
Last week, millions of TikTok users in the U.S. woke up to find the app no longer accessible. This blackout also extended to CapCut, the popular video editing app owned by TikTok’s parent company ByteDance. While TikTok and CapCut resumed services hours later, neither app has returned to the Apple or Google app stores, leaving many users unable to reinstall them.
eBay listings surge as sellers cash in
A quick search for “TikTok phone” on eBay reveals over 9,000 listings. Sellers are offering second-hand smartphones, preloaded with TikTok, for thousands of dollars. For example, an Apple iPhone 15 Pro with both TikTok and CapCut installed recently sold for $ 13,997. In another case, an Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max was listed for $ 50,000.
Limited app availability drives a niche market
While TikTok’s temporary reprieve continues, the app’s absence from major app stores has created a unique opportunity for eBay sellers. This niche market highlights the unforeseen ways that digital restrictions can impact the secondary smartphone market.
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