$5 Million for an iPhone With TikTok? US Users Desperate After App Ban
$5 Million for an iPhone With TikTok? US Users Desperate After App Ban
Days after TikTok was banned in the US and then reinstated by President Donald Trump, users who uninstalled the app are scrambling to regain access. Despite the ban being lifted, TikTok remains unavailable for download on the Google Play Store and Apple Store, leaving many desperate for alternatives.
The ban’s aftermath has sparked a bizarre trend. Some users are offering significant sums of money for smartphones with TikTok still installed. On eBay, an iPhone 15 Pro with 128 GB storage was listed for nearly $5 million (₹43 crore). The ad emphasized, “Screen protector is only damage, phone perfect and has TikTok.”
Social media is flooded with similar requests. One user on X (formerly Twitter) posted, “I deleted TikTok and now I can’t get it back! I will pay $5,000 for an iPhone 16 Pro Max with TikTok still installed. DM me.”
Many TikTok users had uninstalled the app, believing it would not return. However, TikTok came back online within 12 hours, leaving those users in a tough spot.
For now, downloading TikTok remains impossible. Android users see a message on the Play Store that reads, “Downloads for this app are paused due to current US legal requirements.” iPhone users encounter a similar message, stating, “TikTok and other ByteDance apps are not available in your country or region.”
This is INSANE! eBay is full of phones with TikTok already downloaded on it selling for thousands!! pic.twitter.com/juxXtINQ9z
— Gentry Gevers (@gentrywgevers) January 22, 2025
Apple and Google have clarified that they must comply with US laws. Analysts suggest they are awaiting additional safeguards before allowing the app back on their platforms.
President Trump has granted ByteDance more time to secure a buyer for TikTok’s US assets. Potential buyers include prominent figures, with Elon Musk’s name also mentioned. The situation remains uncertain, keeping TikTok users on edge.
