TikTok loaded telephones are promoting for 1000’s on-line after momentary ban

A few of TikTok’s 170 million U.S.-based customers are promoting telephones with the social media app preloaded on them for 1000’s of {dollars} on-line.

Mother or father firm ByteDance voluntarily shut down the TIkTok app within the U.S. Sunday, hours earlier than a deadline to both promote the app or have it banned over issues associated to its China ties. TikTok was momentarily unavailable to U.S.-based customers, earlier than President Donald Trump on Monday paused a ban on the app working within the U.S. from going into impact.  

Over the weekend, even those that had already downloaded the app to their telephones weren’t in a position to make use of it, earlier than it grew to become out there once more. Whereas service has since been restored for current customers, the app remains to be not out there obtain in U.S.-based app shops, and so it stays unavailable to anybody who hadn’t beforehand downloaded it. 

Now telephones that have already got TikTok put in on them are all of a sudden a scorching commodity. Dozens of listings for telephones and tablets that have already got the app have since cropped up on platforms together with the web market eBay.

Amongst them is an eBay itemizing for a tool that is described as a brand-new Apple Iphone 16 Professional Max containing TikTok for $50,000, or “Greatest Supply.” In line with eBay’s website, practically 80 buyers are maintaining their eyes on the itemizing. 

Different comparable listings abound, together with gadgets which are listed on the market for simply a whole lot of {dollars}. Among the listings promote telephones with lively TikTok accounts, whereas others say the app is put in, however not linked to an account. EBay didn’t instantly reply to CBS MoneyWatch’s request for touch upon the listings. 

TikTok’s U.S. customers usually are not focused by the ban, which President Trump has paused till early April. However the legislation, Defending People from Overseas Adversary Managed Functions Act, would make it unlawful for app shops from Google or Apple, in addition to web-hosting providers, to distribute or service TikTok.