In the wake of TikTok being removed from app stores across the United States, some determined users who have failed to re-download the app have sought online marketplaces to buy phones preloaded with TikTok, from eBay to the streets. The demand has sparked a spate of listings for used devices promising the desired app, with prices from a few hundred dollars to as much as $10,000.
This trend isn’t exactly novel. Similar examples have arrived in the past, like handsets with scarce gaming applications. But with TikTok, the excitement has been driven by plunging out of nowhere: the app’s sudden removal, which set users racing to preserve access to their platform of choice.
These expensive listings on sites like eBay illustrate exactly how much some people are willing to spend to return to TikTok. Some to the reasonable $150 range and others to the ridiculous levels that only a few thousand dollars might justify.
The temporary TikTok ban has revived debates over national security and user data. Although it disappeared briefly, TikTok is still operating for people who had already installed it. Government talks remain unsettled, and ByteDance, TikTok’s parent, is racing against a deadline to sell the app to a company grounded in the US. A successful mediation could allow the app back into American app stores.
For now, clever users are discovering workarounds to keep in touch. Whether or not you would be willing to pay the high price for a pre-loaded device is up for debate, but what everyone can agree on is that TikTok’s popularity keeps inspiring creativity—even in unusual ways.
Peace Nero is a writer and blogger who loves to explore different topics of self-development. She shares her personal experiences in order to help people discover their true purpose in life.